Portland’s Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department will begin site improvements at Riverton Trolley Park starting Monday, Aug. 3, continuing a series of upgrades to the 130-year-old park off Riverside Street in Maine’s largest city.
The work will include a newly paved parking lot with stormwater enhancements, new signage and pedestrian walkways, ADA-compliant access routes, bike racks, a drinking fountain and a designated food truck space.
The upgrades will result in full closure of the parking lot until the project is completed in October.
The existing pedestrian path from Riverside Street to the bike park and baseball field will remain open throughout most of the construction period, though pedestrian access will be limited during the construction of the proposed bituminous sidewalk.
R.J. Grondin & Sons, based in Gorham, has been contracted to complete this portion of the work, which the city expects to cost $360,895.
The funding comes from a combination of the city’s capital improvement plan funds, private funding and a grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Early days
Riverton Trolley Park is one of the city’s most historic green spaces. It was established in 1896 and operated until 1929.
The venue was originally served by a trolley from Monument Square, and in its heyday contained a casino, an amphitheater, a dance hall and even a wildlife petting zoo.
People came to enjoy boat rides on the adjacent Presumpscot River, concerts at the bandstand, croquet games on the lawns, picnics in the woodlands and vaudeville shows at the open-air theater.
Recent revamps
More recently, the city has undertaken a series of revitalization projects at the 20-acre park, in partnership with the Portland Parks Conservancy, including the creation of the city’s first dedicated public bike park, which opened in May.
Maine Trail Builders and the Greater Portland New England Mountain Bike Association collaborated on that project.
