Riverton Trolley Park Improvements
Nearly 100 years after its heyday as a trolley and amusement park, this beautiful but underused park land consists mostly of woodland bisected by ravines draining into the Presumpscot River. This wooded park currently hosts a Little League Field and a network of meandering trails, a wildflower meadow, a small community orchard, and a natural spring.
In 2021, the Portland Parks Conservancy undertook a public engagement effort to raise awareness of the park’s history and to solicit public input on the park’s future programming and recreational improvements. Input gathered through an online community meeting (March 30, 2021) and online survey was used to identify several recreational improvements park users support. With community feedback in mind, the Portland Parks Conservancy worked with the Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department to develop a list of proposed park improvements and a preliminary design in order to pursue funding for design and construction of these improvements.
In March 2023, the City was awarded a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. This federal grant, combined with private donations and municipal funding, has made it possible for PRF to move ahead with final design, documentation, permitting and construction. The proposed park improvements include:
Addition of a mountain biking skills course and pump track and a new system of wayfinding and interpretive signage.
Upgrades to the park entrance, parking lot, ballfield fencing, and trailheads.
Installation of native meadow plants, understory perennials and the next generation of native trees where ash trees are being removed due to emerald ash borer infestation.
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Important Dates
Riverton Trolley Bike Park to Celebrate Grand Opening with Ribbon Cutting
PORTLAND, Maine — On Wednesday, May 14 at 4:00 PM, the Portland Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Portland’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Facilities, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of Riverton Trolley Bike Park, Portland’s first dedicated public bike park. This milestone represents a major step forward in revitalizing one of the city’s most historic green spaces.
The ceremony, which will take place at Riverton Trolley Park, located off Forest Avenue, is open to the public. Community members are invited to attend for remarks from Mayor Mark Dion, District 5 City Councilor Kate Sykes, and project partners, along with guided tours of the new bike features and a celebration of the park’s exciting new chapter.
The bike park serves as the centerpiece of a $535,000 park improvement project made possible through a collaborative partnership among the City of Portland, Portland Parks Conservancy, Maine Trail Builders, and the Greater Portland New England Mountain Bike Association (GPNEMBA). Maine Trail Builders designed and constructed the flow trail and features, creating a riding experience that is both exciting and accessible for users of all skill levels. GPNEMBA contributed local expertise and advocacy, ensuring the park meets the needs of the region’s biking community. Funding support for the project was provided by Allagash Brewing Company, Battery Steele Brewing, Fund for Maine Land Conservation, Horizon Foundation, L.L.Bean, Maine Beer Company, Maine Mountain Bike Trail Fund, and many additional local donors and businesses.
The vision for the bike park was shaped through a robust community engagement process led by the Portland Parks Conservancy in 2021. Local residents, including Riverton neighbors and park users, shared their ideas and priorities. Their input directly informed the design and development of the bike features, helping transform Riverton Trolley Park into a vibrant, inclusive space for outdoor recreation. In addition to the bike park, the Riverton Trolley Park revitalization will soon include new interpretive signage detailing its storied history, new wayfinding signage, ballfield upgrades, an improved parking area, and a native pollinator meadow.
The May 14 ribbon-cutting will officially open the bike park and mark the beginning of a new chapter for Riverton as a destination for connection, adventure, and community-driven improvement.