Maine Med plans to invest $300,000 in neighborhood parks
Courtesy / Maine Medical Center
Maine Medical Center in Portland announced today it is giving $300,000 to the city of Portland for investments in parks in the Western Prom, Parkside and St. John Street neightborhoods. The investment is part of the hospital's $525 million modernization and expansion plan.
As part of its $525 million expansion and modernization project, Maine Medical Center announced today it will provide the city of Portland $300,000 for investments in parks in the Western Prom, Parkside and St. John Street neighborhoods.
MMC said in a news release the investment in city parks “affirms its commitment to the neighborhoods it belongs to, as well as its appreciation for the continuing collaboration and open dialogue it shares with city and neighborhood leaders. MMC has been an anchor of the west Portland neighborhoods for over 140 years, and its employees, patients and their visitors greatly benefit from the wonderful community spaces that surround it.”
In addition to this one-time grant, MMC said it also is developing a “Caring Community” grant program that will make available up to $30,000 each year to neighborhood associations or other entities in the St. John Street, Parkside, West End, Western Prom and Libbytown neighborhoods. This program was a requirement under the Institutional Overlay Zone framework approved by the City Council in 2017 that provides the context for future MMC development at the Bramhall campus.
Groups will be able to apply for these grants for a variety of initiatives, including those that promote quality of life, diversity and inclusion, public safety, environment sustainability and the general support of strong, safe, accessible and vibrant neighborhoods.
MMC also supported the installation of holiday lights in Bramhall Square this year with a one-time $6,000 grant.
“Maine Medical Center’s vision of working together so our communities are the healthiest in America is absolutely supported through helping our neighborhood partners enhance the parks and open spaces we all enjoy and value,” said Jeff Sanders, MMC COO and executive vice president. “MMC recognizes the responsibility it has to our neighbors to help make our community a place where people enjoy living, working and receiving care.”
District 2 City Councilor Spencer Thibodeau worked closely with MMC and the local neighborhood associations as the hospital’s expansion and modernization plan has progressed for more than two years.
“MMC plays a critical role in the city and in the state, in terms of providing the highest level of health care, but MMC is also an important member of the neighborhoods it abuts,” he said. “This kind of investment in the parks and neighborhoods is good for the city.”
Portland City Manager Jon Jennings said the city looks forward to working with the neighborhoods to “make some real progress that will improve residents’ lives with on-the-ground investment.
“Tapping into our city departments’ experience and expertise will maximize the benefits provided by this grant from MMC,” he said.
Altogether, MMC’s $525 million project will create 128 new private patient rooms, add 19 procedure rooms for surgeries and other complex treatments, provide an additional 225 spaces for patient and visitor parking and consolidate MMC staff parking into a single location that will meet current demand and future growth.
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