Congress Square Park

Congress Square Park is a small public park in the Arts District of Portland, Maine. The park includes a stage for performances and areas for sitting.[1] It is also home to a large, historic clock which had previously been located at Union Station.[2]

Congress Square Park
Congress square park, with The Westin Portland Harborview, formerly known as The Eastland, in the background.
TypePark
LocationPortland, Maine, United States
Coordinates43°39′16″N 70°15′48″W
Operated byCity of Portland, Maine
Open1982
DesignationPark

History

The park was created in 1982 with an urban development grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.[3] In 2013, the city, led by Mayor Michael F. Brennan and City Manager Jon Jennings sought to sell the park to Rockbridge Capital, which was renovating the adjacent hotel. However, residents (led by the Friends of Congress Square Park) drafted an ordinance which prevented the sale until a vote could occur. After collecting a sufficient number of signatures, the sale was postponed until after a June 2014 referendum.[4] In that election, voters endorsed their initiative, which prevented the sale of the public and added protections to the further sale of public spaces.[5]

Since 2013, the Friends of Congress Square Park has organized events, raised funds on behalf of, and maintained the park.[6] In 2018, the city received a $33,000 grant for a public art project in the park.[7]

References
  1. "Congress Square". Greater Portland Landmarks.
  2. "Union Station Clock". Greater Portland Landmarks.
  3. Flaccavento, Anthony (2016). Building a Healthy Economy from the Bottom Up: Harnessing Real-World Experience for Transformative Change. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813167350. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  4. Koenig, Seth (May 6, 2014). "High court allows Congress Square Park referendum to advance for June vote". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  5. "The Story of Congress Square Park: How A Derelict Plaza Got a New Identity Downtown". Project for Public Spaces.
  6. Zeli, Anthony (4 June 2015). "Congress Square Park: Derelict Space to Summer Hot Spot". The West End News. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  7. Billings, Randy (9 February 2018). "Portland receives grant for art in Congress Square Park". Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. Retrieved 9 November 2019.

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