Western Promenade Historic Landscape Master Plan

From the Introduction: "The 'Portland Open Space Vision and Implementation Plan', prepared in 2016, identifies Western Promenade as a 'signature park' which it defines as a 'historically significant park that services the entire city.' As one of Portland's earliest and largest parks, it plays an important role in the City's recreation history/ Along its bookend, the Eastern Promenade, land was set aside for the development of the two roadways in 1936. The long-standing city engineer of the late 19th century - William A. Goodwin - proposed improvements of both landscapes to provide 'open-air exercise and for social out-of-door intercourse'. Recommendations which were furthered by the landscape architecture firm Olmsted Brothers and the Mayor James Phinney Baxter in 1905. The Western Promenade was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 along with Deering Oaks, Lincoln Park, Eastern Promenade, and Baxter Boulevard. In 2018, Western Promenade was the only of these historic landscapes not to have a landscape master plan prepared. The non-profit volunteer organization - Friends of Western Promenade - was established in 2018 'dedicated to restoring and preserving' the Western Promenade for the benefit of the public. The City and the Friends have since been working collaboratively to guide the master planning process. From the City, the purpose of this Historic Landscape Master Plan for Western Promenade is: to document the history and the evolution of the Western Promenade over time; to identify the original design intent for Western Promenade; to codify the key character-defining features; to provide an assessment of existing conditions; to identify current and potential uses within the landscape; to recommend and provide direction on rehabilitation/restoration initiatives; to provide an implementation plan, including priority/phasing of proposed improvements, estimated construction budgets, etc.; and to outline best management practices to ensure appropriate on-going stewardship." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Maine Historic Preservation Commission administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number P18AF00024).

Western Promenade Historic Landscape Master Plan

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