La Vida Local
Irregular Notes on West End Life
Encampments at Harbor View Memorial Park?
Harbor View Park was built on rubble from the destruction of the Million Dollar Bridge that once spanned the Fore River from Brackett Street to Ocean Street in South Portland. Houses were torn down making room for a flat lawn area along York Street and a (somewhat) terraced slope was created leading down under the Casco Bay Bridge to Commercial Street.
Camping Out in the Park
For years the area along the Fore River from around Becky’s to Cassidy Point was pretty much abandoned. Campers lived along the water side of Commercial Street, usually pretty well concealed amid the trees and abandoned junk. The railroad tunnel under Clark Street was another place for camping, as was the secluded area under the bridge. The numbers would ebb and flow, but tension and friction between the campers and residents wasn’t all that palpable.
Things started changing, though, with the Great Recession and the ongoing opioid crisis. The train tunnel and the area under the bridge were fenced in, although some people managed to still find access. The empty area along Commercial Street developed quickly with Eimskip, Portland Yacht Services, the VA Clinic, etc. Where were campers to go?
Meanwhile, Harbor View Park itself seemed like a lonely outcast, celebrated only on St. Patrick’s Day. There was no money for programming and amenities; just some for landscape maintenance. The park was looking pretty forlorn.
Caring Community Grant Improves Harbor View
Fortuitously, the City of Portland made an agreement with Maine Medical Center that, as part of its Institutional Overlay Zone Regulatory Framework, a Neighborhood Advisory Council would be formed. It includes representatives from the five neighborhood associations of areas most heavily impacted by MMC’s expansion projects. One result has been that MMC instituted the Caring Community Grant program to help those neighborhood associations carry out projects beneficial for their residents, businesses, and visitors. In 2017 the West End Neighborhood Association, under the leadership of Pamela Shaw, secured one of these grants for Harbor View Park.
The funds were instrumental in accessing expert advice on planting and nurturing several improvements such as the tiny forest, the edible hillside, the meadow, a small collection of chestnut trees, as well as benches and picnic tables. In addition, the grant energized volunteers to take on the work of removing years’ worth of knotweed and black swallowwort. Good things were happening at Harbor View.
But where are we now?
Lack of affordable housing; substance abuse; financial, mental, and physical problems; and scores of other tribulations abound. The number of people without housing and living in encampments continues to grow, including on the slope at Harbor View.
Recently the City decided to work intensively with one encampment at a time to get people housed. First was Fore River Parkway, next Marginal Way Park and Ride. What about the 20+ tents on the slope at the public Harbor View Park?
In addition to the city ordinance against camping in public parks, just about every posted park rule is being broken by campers. There’s trash, human waste, needles, late night noise. Not to mention, threatening and intimidating behavior towards residents who live next to the park and people who want to walk between Commercial Street and the West End.
Harbor View Park itself, the people in the encampment, the residents who surround it, the scores of volunteers and visitors who brought the park back to a lively, loved location deserve better than this. Sooner, not later.
Encampments at Harbor View Memorial Park?
La Vida Local
Irregular Notes on West End Life
Encampments at Harbor View Memorial Park?
By Rosanne Graef
Harbor View Park was built on rubble from the destruction of the Million Dollar Bridge that once spanned the Fore River from Brackett Street to Ocean Street in South Portland. Houses were torn down making room for a flat lawn area along York Street and a (somewhat) terraced slope was created leading down under the Casco Bay Bridge to Commercial Street.
Camping Out in the Park
For years the area along the Fore River from around Becky’s to Cassidy Point was pretty much abandoned. Campers lived along the water side of Commercial Street, usually pretty well concealed amid the trees and abandoned junk. The railroad tunnel under Clark Street was another place for camping, as was the secluded area under the bridge. The numbers would ebb and flow, but tension and friction between the campers and residents wasn’t all that palpable.
Things started changing, though, with the Great Recession and the ongoing opioid crisis. The train tunnel and the area under the bridge were fenced in, although some people managed to still find access. The empty area along Commercial Street developed quickly with Eimskip, Portland Yacht Services, the VA Clinic, etc. Where were campers to go?
Meanwhile, Harbor View Park itself seemed like a lonely outcast, celebrated only on St. Patrick’s Day. There was no money for programming and amenities; just some for landscape maintenance. The park was looking pretty forlorn.
Caring Community Grant Improves Harbor View
Fortuitously, the City of Portland made an agreement with Maine Medical Center that, as part of its Institutional Overlay Zone Regulatory Framework, a Neighborhood Advisory Council would be formed. It includes representatives from the five neighborhood associations of areas most heavily impacted by MMC’s expansion projects. One result has been that MMC instituted the Caring Community Grant program to help those neighborhood associations carry out projects beneficial for their residents, businesses, and visitors. In 2017 the West End Neighborhood Association, under the leadership of Pamela Shaw, secured one of these grants for Harbor View Park.
The funds were instrumental in accessing expert advice on planting and nurturing several improvements such as the tiny forest, the edible hillside, the meadow, a small collection of chestnut trees, as well as benches and picnic tables. In addition, the grant energized volunteers to take on the work of removing years’ worth of knotweed and black swallowwort. Good things were happening at Harbor View.
But where are we now?
Lack of affordable housing; substance abuse; financial, mental, and physical problems; and scores of other tribulations abound. The number of people without housing and living in encampments continues to grow, including on the slope at Harbor View.
Recently the City decided to work intensively with one encampment at a time to get people housed. First was Fore River Parkway, next Marginal Way Park and Ride. What about the 20+ tents on the slope at the public Harbor View Park?
In addition to the city ordinance against camping in public parks, just about every posted park rule is being broken by campers. There’s trash, human waste, needles, late night noise. Not to mention, threatening and intimidating behavior towards residents who live next to the park and people who want to walk between Commercial Street and the West End.
Harbor View Park itself, the people in the encampment, the residents who surround it, the scores of volunteers and visitors who brought the park back to a lively, loved location deserve better than this. Sooner, not later.