Fort Gorges – in Early December 2019.
A Rendering of Proposed Path, Railing and Ferry Landing at Fort Gorges.
New to the Friends is this West Bay 26. She was Custom Built for Dinner Cruises on the Connecticut River. More Details Will be Available About Her in the Spring.
Aaron Frederick & Roger Berle – Both Board Members of the Friends of Fort Gorges
2019 has been an amazing year of growth in the restoration of Fort Gorges, off the coast of Munjoy HIll, on the east end of Portland. That despite an uncertain moment when the restoration was threatened by developer Mike Dugay who had massive plans to develop the historic site.
There have been many highlights in 2019 and they will be described herein.
First, the Friends are delighted to have secured first-ever sponsors. They are: Rising Tide Breweries, Bangor Savings Bank, Arta Custom Framing, Oxbow Brewing, and Emily Delamater Photography. Those relationships led to partnerships with Portland Wine Week, John Weaver and Fortscaping.
Second, the first tour of the historic Fort Gorges was in late May and the last one in October according to information from Paul Drinan, executive director of the Friends. There was even a request for a November private tour that had to be canceled due to 30 knot winds. No way!
Third, the newly formed Portland Parks Conservancy, (PPC) has voted to fund their first projects and Fort Gorges made the list. The PPC also hosted a public forum at the East End Community School that gave the public an opportunity to hear the pros and cons of commercialization of our parks, including Fort Gorges. It was Standing Room Only and the audience was nearly unanimous in their support for the Friends’ mission to preserve Fort Gorges over commercilization.
Fourth, for three years now, the Friends have been conducting tours to the historic Fort. Thanks to Block Island Maritime and the Friends’ generous board members, the Friends have its very own boat – a West Bay 26. What an incredible boon that addition is to the tour program.
Fifth, the Access Project is fully funded and that is very exciting news. Once it is completed, the Friends will have the capacity to accommodate larger vessels than the West Bay 26 alongside the stone wharf, including the Casco Bay Lines. With increased access comes more people visiting the park and more donors to help fund the Friends’ work. This access could lead to a more financially sustainable site. Work on this aspect is slated to begin in May 2020. That’s not very far away this blogger keeps saying during this snow storm!
Last, the Fort Gorges Preservation Plan will save the fort! The plans for this work have been approved by the City. It has made a commitment to fund half of the estimated $500,000.to complete the work. The Portland Park Conservancy has made a commitment as well to fundraise for this Plan.
And oh yes! You asked:
“The last proposal is no longer being pushed, but we actually have no way of knowing for sure. I suspect it won’t be another 30 years until we face this threat again,” wrote Paul Drinan, executive director, in a recent email to mhn.com. Paul was referring to the massive development proposal made by Mike Dugay that was the focus of the public forum at East End Community School referred to previously herein.
The Fort was named for an Englishman, Sir Ferdinand Gorges, who never set foot in the US and was a persistent but failed developer of the area.
Drinan, a classiclly trained actor, is best known for: Desperate Crossing, the True Story of the Mayflower, The Conquest of America and Beacon HIll. He has appeared in numerous plays in Portland such as the St. Lawrence Arts Center on Munjoy Hill as well as in New York City.
Donations are always welcome!
Please see post herein dated August 10, 2019 for more background information.
(note: mhn.com is trying to determine who in the city has agreed to pay roughly $250,000. to fund the Expansion Plan referred to above and where will the funds come from.)