It was to a full crowd of supporters on Sept. 28 that Robert Maroon Jr., owner of the Chowder House, made a proposition to the Boothbay Harbor Selectmen: It is time to take a serious look at the footbridge parking lot.

He didn't come just with a problem, but with a plan, including a proposal on how the area could be beautified and improved.

“The most important reason to improve the municipal lot is the character of the waterfront,” Maroon said during Monday’s regular selectmen’s meeting. “It appears to look like a landfill from end to end. Rocks and rubble have been dumped along its length year to year.” Maroon also said tourists who want to get close to the water have to navigate the dangerous slope.

Maroon’s restaurant, the Chowder House Boat Bar & Grill at 22 Granary Way, borders the parking lot on one side.

Maroon proposed pushing the lot out further, where the sloping line of rocks currently are, and creating a solid stone wall with steps going down toward the water. The wall would be nearly flush with the lot itself, and there would be a buffer of green space between the wall and the lot. There would also be room for a walkway along the wall, which could wrap around the entire lot and give visitors a way to walk toward the water without having to dodge moving cars.

Maroon also proposed a redesign of the lot itself, which would eliminate cars parking on the edges to give a better view of the water.

“The waterfront itself is totally blocked by the bumpers of vehicles from end to end,” Maroon said. “People who come to the harbor should be able to actually see it.”

“A wall or rip rap should be constructed, including a permanent step-way with removable railings to assist those who wish to get near the water and walk the beach at low tide,” Maroon said. “Not to mention how much classier it would appear from across the harbor or from the footbridge.”

Since the railings proposed would be removable, and the wall flush with the parking lot, winter plows would not be impeded when they were pushing snow into the harbor.

Many members of the community came out to support the idea, including Danielle Betts of Knickerbocker Group, Planning Board Chairman Mike Tomko, owner of Mung Bean Steve Madden, Alan Miller, who owns the footbridge house, lobsterman Rusty Court, along with many others. Many spoke in favor of the plan and offered to donate time and resources to help make it happen.

“It looks like a dumping ground right now, with broken asphalt and beer cans and cigarette butts,” Miller said. “We have a beautiful harbor and it's not attractive.”

Tomko said he had spoken with Peter Tischbein, project manager of the New England District at the Maine Project Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Tomko, Tischbein said that the project was “quite possible and doable.”

The selectmen were in favor of the idea, as creating green space and beautification are two of their major goals for the area.

“I think it's a great idea,” Vice Chairman Bill Hamblen said. “I support it, but would like to see some numbers first on what a project like this might cost.”

Selectman Wendy Wolf suggested a call to Mary Ellen Barnes of Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission to see if any grant funds might be available for such a project.

The selectmen requested a formal proposal with an idea of pricing for their next meeting, where the item would be on the agenda for discussion. Their next meeting will be held 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at at the town office.

Chairman Denise Griffin thanked everyone for their suggestions and ideas. The next day, Maroon met with stonemason Bill Royall of Southport to get an idea on costs and begin work of the formal proposal.