Central park provides a long and rich history in the Portland area as the first park established when the city was founded in 1786. The park acted as a community garden then, and continues to manage and extensive horticulture environment of heirloom plants local to the historical Portland, Maine area. Central Park is dedicated to honoring long time traditions and educating the community, as well as travelers to Portland, on the history and how our ancestors survived the harsh seasons in New England.
Activities
Summer Concert Series
Every Saturday from June through September, a local artist is showcased on the Central Park stage for a family friendly performance. Performances range in topic from music, dance, spoken word, and even film presentations. The music is great, the venue relaxing and rejuvenating, and the experience is to be a part of a long standing Point Russell tradition. Bring a chair, wear a mask, and prepare for a socially distanced night out, you will be glad you did.
Farmers Market
A gathering of food and friends since 1965, the Central Park Farmers Market is a great way to spend a Saturday. You will find locally grown food and products made by makers in our very own community. Find your favorite farmers, ranchers and food producers here where they sell the products they work year round to curate and meet the demand for organic and sustainable food in the Point Russell community. By shopping the farmers market you are supporting your neighbors and their small businesses. Shop the farmers market to see the best that your community has to offer.
Hours: Every Saturday (April - October) from 10am - 4pm
Shop Safely (Current Covid-19 Guidelines):
- Mask required
- Social Distance (Maintain 6' of distance)
- Follow one way traffic cues
- Hand washing stations provided
- Please stay home if you are experiencing symptoms
Recreation
Central Park provides a total of 4 miles of walking and biking trails. The park is used for professional running, and the annual Point Russell 5k held every August. There are 3 baseball fields, one soccer field, and one football field all available for resident use. In the winter months, the pond within Central Park is turned into an ice skating rink for residents to participate in traditional New England winter activities. Come take advantage of Central Park's expansive outdoor space and get cozy with nature.
Wildlife
Flora
In conjunction with the Wild Seed Project, we are working to bring traditional flora back to the Maine landscape. Maine is known for their blueberries, but more so we aim to represent tradition as much as possible and wish to show varieties of plants that our ancestors may have encountered when Central Park was simply a community garden that brought life to the Point Russell community. Some common flora you will find in the park's expansive gardens are:
- American Honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis)
- Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema Triphyllum)
- Beach Plum (Prunus maritima)
- Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
Fauna
Just as we work to preserve the flora that might have been present in the early days of our community, preserving animal life is just as important. We work to protect the animals and ensure they are able to thrive in a natural environment with as little human intervention as possible, especially in the winter months. Some of the most common animals you might see are a wide variety of birds and ducks, rabbits and hares, and even the occasional moose or whitetail deer. How many species will you see on your visit?