Master Plan Recommendations By Sections

ENTRANCE
2. Enhance the FWP Main Entrance: Improve and enhance the aesthetics of the Park’s entrance by adding native plant material at the main entry gate and entry sign.

THE MEADOW:
3. Enhance quality of the Meadow lawn through selective repairs.

SHIP COVE:
4. Establish an improved waterfront space at Ship Cove. Considerations should be made to circulation, establishing visual boundaries with plantings and the addition of amenities.

5. Maintain the existing swings in their location and enhance the area with additional playground activities over time.

6. Enhance the Ship Cove picnic platform to respond to its presence on the shore by establishing a clearer entrance, repairing the concrete as needed and integrating native plants.

7. Enhance the intersection at Goddard/Keyes/Beach. Clean up the area, remove the barricade , and create a clear intersection with an interpretive kiosk for historic panels, signage, and wayfinding. Consider the use of technology including QR codes at this kiosk.

8. Improve the screening of the portable toilets. See recommendation #68 in General Recommendations section of the report on page 53 for additional information.

CHAPEL HILL PRESERVE:
9. Manage the invasive species in Chapel Hill Preserve (CHP).

10. Expose and Celebrate Natural and Cultural features in CHP: Maintain and expose historic features including walls, stairs, and structures.

GODDARD MANSION
11. Revitalization of Goddard Mansion
a. Engage a structural engineer to determine the extent of repairs to salvage at least the façade of the Mansion to create a concept similar to Bermuda’s “Unfinished Church”. Remove the existing fence & signs. Remove portions of the back and side walls as needed based on structural and financial viability and re-purpose the salvaged materials to provide an area for viewing, and interaction “within” the Mansion.

b. Develop an overlook at the backside of Goddard Mansion-grade behind the façade to create a picnic area and use salvaged debris for seating and slope stabilization.

c. Reduce the impervious surface at Mansion-Eliminate excessive asphalt paving at the Mansion and replace with lawn and landscapes reflective of the Mansion’s glory days.

d. Add vegetated buffer along property line.

e. Plant slope and possibly add steps on the back side of Mansion creating a beautiful sweeping lawn area.

BATTERY KEYES:
12. Repair and Preserve Battery Keyes
a. Replace the crumbing steps with new steps and add handrails to provide safe access to the top of the battery.

b. Consult a Structural Engineer to secure portions of the battery to provide limited access to the parts of the battery that remain safe. Restrict access to all unsafe portions with the use of high-quality fencing.

c. Reduce the width of the road leading to the battery to a wide (plowable) walking path. Add seating opportunities along this approach to the battery, and remove excessive pavement in front of the battery to establish an open space.

d. Incorporate an overlook.

e. Reduce impervious surface and establish open space at Battery Keyes.

SHORELINE:
13. Replace invasive plants with native plantings and replant the shoreline.

14. Provide safe access to the rocky shoreline, through the use of boulders/stairs/plantings, as appropriate. Research liability issues with Town Attorney.

OVERFLOW/PARADE GROUND PARKING:

15. Develop Enhanced Parking/Traffic Flow for Parade Ground & Overflow Parking:

a. Re-engineer the layout and develop new circulation patterns for entry and exit from the parade ground and overflow parking lot, as well as, north-south access across this section of the Park.

b. Develop an enhanced parking lot in the area that is currently overflow parking. Consider the use of asphalt or creative sustainable/permeable paving options. Parking lot to include plantings, ADA access, and parking for oversize vehicles such as RVs, buses and campers. Considerations should be taken to develop free vs. paid parking areas.

c. Eliminate road beyond overflow parking area and integrate into new circulation pattern

16. Establish N-S circulation through the parking areas to connect across fields, without the use of additional paved paths.**

17. Establish Node/Insert Smaller Kiosks - Establish a node with an interpretive kiosk for historic panels, signage and wayfinding. Consider the use of technology including QR codes at this kiosk. Incorporate the use of smaller kiosks/panels for wayfinding.

18. Develop a new park area from the space acquired through the readjustment of the parking areas. Keep stone walls if adjustments to Powers Road allows.

PARADE GROUND:

19. Parade Ground Bleachers: Repair or replace the existing bleachers to provide a safe and stable bleacher area. Integrate the bleachers into the site by adding plants (trees and shrubs) between the parking area and bleachers. Establish an ADA accessible access from the parking area to the bleachers.

20. Develop Walking Promenades - Establish the existing road that runs along the south side of the parade ground as a walking promenade. Provide seating nodes with trees and planting pods. Add water and electrical infrastructure along this new promenade. Create a walking path along the south side of the Overflow/Parade Ground Parking.

21. Enhance quality of the Parade Ground lawn through selective repairs.

BALL FIELD:

22. Make a slight adjustment in the orientation of the existing ball field and related facilities. Enhance the ball field and amenities.

23. Establish a new space at the terminus of the parade ground to provide for a small picnic and gathering area. Consider a kiosk/panel for wayfinding in this area.

POND:

24. Upgrade the existing Pond area.

a. Hire a pond consultant to evaluate and repair the pond’s environment, pumps and surrounding walls.
b. Add native plant material around the edges of the pond.
c. Consider a new pavilion type shelter that can serve as a warming hut for winter skating and an outdoor gathering space/classroom in the warmer months. Evaluate the options for the appropriate location of this pavilion.

CHILDREN’S GARDEN:

25. Maintain Children’s Garden: The Children’s Garden is a major park asset and needs to continue to be maintained with the support of Friends of FWP. The Town should consider financial support to continue to assist the Friends of FWP’s efforts.

26. Relocate the existing playground near the Town’s maintenance buildings to the North side of the Children’s Garden to support the play activity in that area.

27. Consider a new area for propagation of native plants on site/educational opportunities.

OFFICERS’ ROW PRESERVE:

28. Add Trees to Officers’ Row Preserve: Introduce new native tree and shrub species throughout the area (as per report by Mike Duddy, 2016) to establish the next generation of tree growth. Keep mowing practices as established.

29. Add Plantings at Band Stand. Add native plant material around base of band shelter to better integrate the structure into the landscape. Leave the decorative downlighting but remove the flood lights at the band shelter.

PICNIC SHELTER & PARKING LOT:

30. Enhance Picnic Shelter Area (Buildings and Landscape): Repair and refresh building, add native plant material around the Picnic Shelter and on the edges of the access path leading up to the shelter to enhance and integrate it into the landscape.

31. Remove the Brick Storage Building from Picnic Shelter Parking Lot: Remove the shed and relocate the contents. Improve parking area with additional EV charging stations.

32. Per Recommendation #1, circulation pattern at Picnic Shelter/Parking (see REC #1) may change.

PICKLEBALL COURTS:

33. Increase pickleball courts to 6 with a North-South orientation and add seating as funds may allow in the future.

PATHS:

34. Add N-S Paths/Circulation: Add signs and paths as needed.

CAPE COMMUNITY CAMPUS:

35. Develop a Long-Term Plan for a potential Cape Community Campus leveraging Officer’s Row:

a. Leverage the existing buildings and re-purpose for use by community organizations. Consider opportunities for education, and activities for Cape Elizabeth residents.

b. Re-organize and develop parking lots establishing a more efficient parking and cir-culation pattern. Consider sustainable paving alternatives, spaces for staff and free parking, and EV charging stations.

c. Develop connecting green spaces and gathering areas.

d. Develop a system of pedestrian access and circulation.

36. Remove and Relocate Playground to Children’s Garden per Recommendation #28.

37. Consider an informational node/kiosk within the Campus as both an organizing site ele-ment and to display Park information and maps.

38. Get Feedback from Public Works to consider the removal of Garage Row over time.

39. Get Feedback from Public Works for removal/better/consolidated/hidden approaches for both laydown areas. Consider a gated approach/access to laydown area.

SOUTHWEST PRESERVE:

40. Manage and maintain the Southwest Preserve: Add the Southwest Preserve to target list for invasive management aligned with future trail system.

a. Remove non-native species from Southwest Preserve.

b. Establish a trail system with seating pods throughout The Preserve.

41. Add Planting Buffer between Harrison Road and Delano Park to limit visibility from the park into neighboring yards.

42. Establish a picnic area at the end of the existing multi-use sports field, with the potential to grow into a more permanent shelter over time.

CLIFF WALK / CLIFF SIDE:

43. Extend Cliff Walk at Batteries Hobart/Williams: Extend the upper Cliff Side walk. Add native plant species in place of lawn along the Cliff Side.

44. Reset Benches along Cliff Walk in a cost-effective way.

45. Establish an overlook on the back side of Battery DeHart to capture the amazing views from this location. Remove concrete, repair sink-hole, and develop an enhanced set of stone stairs from the current CSC/vendor site.

46. Connect the Northern and Southern Section of Cliff Walk and enhance with Kiosk:

a. Establish a strong entrance to the existing Cliff Walk.

b. Add an Information kiosk/panel at the trail entrance.

c. Establish a southern section of the Cliff Walk, South of the Portland Head Light through The Green.

THE GREEN:

47. Develop a “mini-theater” on a bowl-shaped piece of topography between Batteries Blair and Garesche.

48. Develop an Overlook at the Former Shooting Range (Berm): Reshape the man-made (shooting range) berm to create safer and prettier area with re-established views.

49. Enhance the quality of The Green lawn through selective repairs.

CENTRAL PARKING LOT:

50. Enhance the architecture of the Greeter’s Shed, through painting or other amenities at the terminus of Central Parking and add a kiosk as both as an organizing site element and to display Park information and maps.

51. Add and enhance plantings at The Central Parking Lot to soften the view, reduce heat and provide screening.

52. Improve the screening of the portable toilets. See recommendation #68 in General Recommendations section of the report on page 53 for additional information.

PORTLAND HEAD LIGHT:

53. Establish a New Park Hub with Promenade for Vendors, Artists and Park Functions:

a. Relocate the vendor area to this new hub/plaza that includes historic interpretation opportunities, gift shop and vendors, interpretation kiosks, and seating opportunities.

54. Develop a wide walking promenade from both the Central Parking lot and Portland Head Light to this new hub.

a. Improve the stairs and umbrella/landing pad from CSC/vendor area up to Flagpole Hill.

b. Consider use of PHL Building for something more elegant than storage. Gift Shop?

55. Updates at Captain Strout Circle:

a. Consider (plowable) alternative to pavement at Captain Strout Circle.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

SURVEY DOCUMENTATION:

56. Update site survey and add to Town GIS.

57. Document above ground and below ground utilities.

58. Establish comprehensive digital documentation and archive all plans, reports, documents.

EROSION/SAFETY/SHORE ACCESS:

59. Establish a comprehensive erosion control plan.

a. Regrade, replant, and add obstacles to control access to unsafe areas with an initial focus on eliminating problem areas of erosion (Cliff Walk, Batteries, under fence near fisherman’s gate, etc).

b. Place fencing and signage in high traffic areas to control access and allow plant growth.

60. Develop policy with Town’s legal counsel to assess liability surrounding shore/cliff access (See Rec #14).

UTILITIES:

61. Provide sewer, water main and electrical upgrades throughout the park.

62. Continue work to eliminate overboard discharge at PHL/Evaluate feasibility of low-pressure sewer system.

63. Consult with a communication consultant to determine a long-term strategy to improve cellular reception in the Park.

AMENITIES:

64. Begin adding bike racks as needed in central locations throughout the park.

65. Add EV charging stations at primary parking areas throughout the park.

66. Consider migration of staff vehicles to EV over time.

67. Unify signage and graphic standards.

68. Consider better screening and higher quality materials for enclosing the existing portable toilets. Use trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and vines to better screen and integrate the portable toilets into their park context. For the Central Parking grouping of portable toilets, consider breaking the larger grouping of them into two “pods.” Extend the enclosure above the toilets.

DEDICATED OPEN SPACE:

69. Formally evaluate establishing the entire park as dedicated open space by permanently preserving 100% of the park with a conservation easement.

SUSTAINABILITY / SEA LEVEL RISE:

70. Follow recommendations in "Maine Can't Wait" Climate Action Plan for managing and planning for sea level rise, determining what this means for FWP.

PARK GOVERNANCE / MANAGEMENT / FUNDING:

71. Assess the effectiveness & efficiencies of Park’s current management strategy involving multiple organizations.

72. Evaluate the funding sources for FWP, including re-evaluation of the fee structures for bus, trolley, picnic shelter, events, etc.

73. Develop a strategy to establish a long-term endowment for the maintenance and upkeep of the park.

74. Consider the limitation of long-term excessive growth of FWP traffic.

75. Enhance and enforce Dog Area Policies.

76. Enhance and enforce “Carry In, Carry out” trash policy.