A View of the Portland Waterfront from Amethyst Park, East of Ocean Gateway International Marine Passenger Terminal.  BIW Once Rented This Space.

A new waterfront recreational space on the east end of Portland has been  awarded $2,145,000 according to a press release issued this morning by the city of Portland.  The appolication for the project was submitted for consideration in the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Package by the Portland Parks Conservancy (PPC) in early 2022.  The Portland Harbor Common Space is located at the base of India Street. It’s on Thames Street, between the Ocean Gateway International Marine Passenger Terminal and the Maine State Pier.

The Portland Harbor Common Project will transform a city-owned parking lot on the harbor into waterfront open space for the use of the public.  It will also set the stage for the redevelopment of 11 acres of city-owned property on Portland’s Eastern Waterfront to public open space.

PPC and the City of Portland partnered in 2021 to secure funding for the construction.  (This new waterfront park should not be confused with the nearby waterfront  Amethyst Lot Park, a/k/a Portland Landing by some.  The Amethyst Park was an idea of former city manager Jon Jennings. The funds for that Park were to have come from the sale of the city property on which the WEX headquarters are located.  What happened?)

“The PPC is committed to park equity and access, so we are thrilled that the new Portland Harbor Common will ensure recreational waterfront access to all the residents of Portland,” said Nan Cumming, PPC Executive Director. Cumming was formerly with the Maine Historical Society, Maine Island Trail Association, Portland Trails and Whitney Museum of American Art.  She has a Master’s Degree from USM in New England Studies.