Portland Harbor Common - Phase 1

This project is made possible through the vision and generosity of Richard Barringer; a Congressionally Directed
Spending grant sponsored by Senator Angus King; City of Portland Capital Improvement funding; support from David E. Shaw, Maine Community Bank, and many others; and an Urban and Community Forestry grant from Project Canopy.

To support completion of Portland Harbor Common, consider donating to the Portland Parks Conservancy: www.portlandparksconservancy.org.

Phase 1 of this project aims to create a new public greenspace along Portland's Eastern Waterfront, on a site currently occupied by the Ocean Gateway queuing lanes. The 3.5 acre site will be transformed into a public greenspace that includes walking and biking trails, trees, native plantings, lawn areas, hardscape areas for event space or food truck activation, lighting, playful features, and parking for nearby water dependent uses. The Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department and the Planning and Urban Development Department are working with the Portland Parks Conservancy (a 501c3 non-profit) to engage the public in designing and activating this new public space.

The Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department, Waterfront Development Operations and the Planning & Urban Development Department hosted a meeting on Sept 22nd, 2021 to share updates on this project and receive public input on the new greenspace planned for Portland's eastern waterfront. Please view the video of the recording below.

Following public input and working committee revisions, a successful federal grant application from Senator King's office, and negotiations with Maine DOT, Phase I design has been refined. The updated plan (30% design development) was presented to council and the public on February 5th, 2024. Please find the design program features and presentation materials for reference below.

Major design elements include:

• Widening the existing Eastern Trail along Thames street and the new park boundary (roughly from India Street to Hancock Street)
• Preserving 125 of the existing 250 public parking spaces, including the western area currently utilized for Islander and waterfront employee parking, and a dedicated day use parking area adjacent to Ocean Gateway and the schooner landing
• Creating adaptable / flex plaza space along the Maine State Pier edge of the project site
• Establishing a 20' wide waterside edge promenade (including new guard rail system, and informational signage elements)
• A 20,000 square foot open lawn space for informal public use (not an athletic field or specialized use like a dog park, etc)
• An elevated plaza space off of the eastern trail at the center of the park (which can adapt to hold a stage, or larger gatherings of groups, etc)
• Several targeted areas for future neighborhood interpretational signage and public art (later phases and process)
• Over 35 new trees
• Native, salt resistant landscape beds / planting areas, with some plantings for monarch butterfly habitat
• 2 large capacity waste receptacles
• Granite seat walls, signature red swings, and other seating amenities (after successful fundraising)
• Site lighting in the new parking area and along pathways
• Portion of widened trail west of India street entrance to improve sidewalk vendor conditions and trail spacing