Aroostook State Park

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Aroostook State Park is public recreation area located within the southern municipal boundary of the city of Presque Isle in Aroostook County, Maine. The state park's encompass Quaggy Jo Mountain and sit adjacent to Echo Lake. "Quaggy Jo" is an altered version of the mountain's Native American name, "Qua Qua Jo," which means "twin-peaked."The park is located off U.S. Route 1 on the south side of Presque Isle. The similarly named Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge lies some to the north.HistoryThe park was formed in 1938 as the first of Maine's state parks three years after the creation of the Maine State Park Commission. It was formed through the donation of of land by business persons from the Presque Isle Merchants Association. The park's first ski runs were built by a 35-member crew from the Works Progress Administration. In 2009, the park was expanded with the addition of, which cost the Department of Conservation $60,000.WildlifeWhile the park's forest provides a home for black bear and moose, smaller species such as foxes, squirrels, and chipmunks are more commonly seen by visitors. The forest's mix of hardwood trees and cold-tolerant softwoods typical of northern Maine includes various species of ash, maple, and birch, as well as hophornbeam, quaking aspen, American beech, and balsam fir. Common birds include hawks, owls, and woodpeckers. Brook trout are found in Echo Lake.