“…Let us secure for ourselves and for our children a beauty spot in the midst of our growing city – a breathing place for all the thousands who are to come after us.”
— Portland Transcript, 1856
Beloved by picnickers, walkers, and those seeking a bit of solitude or casual meeting spot among the trees, Lincoln Park is an elegant historic green space directly across Franklin Street from Verdante, at the center of the Portland Peninsula.
The story of Lincoln Park
In 1866, Lincoln Park became the first publicly-owned improved park in Portland. The city bought the burnt-out parcel bordered by Congress, Franklin, Federal, and Pearl Streets for $83,000 in 1866 – about $1.3 million in today’s dollars.
Lincoln Park was first conceived as a firebreak, after the Great Fire of 1866, and came to represent the resurgence of Portland after the fire. It was a hub of the city for decades. In addition to being a popular spot for citizens to meet and relax, Lincoln Park housed a farmer’s market and provided a platform for speakers.
The park’s fountain was cast by the Val d’Osne foundry in Paris, France. It is one of only three of that model known to have come to the United States.
Lincoln Park’s size and appearance have changed over the years. In 1909, the park expanded to include an empty lot to the west, and the city built the Congress Street Fire Station on that spot in 1923. In the 1960s, Dutch elm disease killed the park’s numerous elm trees, and in 1970, the eastern quarter of the park was demolished to widen Franklin Street.
Once again a vibrant park
A revitalization effort between Friends of Lincoln Park and the City of Portland is returning Lincoln Park to its charming status. The Parisian fountain began flowing again in the fall of 2017 for the first time in more than 100 years. In December, the magical lights of Pandora LaCasse Design, which Portlanders have enjoyed for years in Deering Oaks Park, Longfellow Square, Congress Square Park, Boothby Square, Tommy’s Park, and Commercial Street, adorned Lincoln Park. Future plans include replicating the original fencing and benches in the park.
Learn more and get involved
Lincoln Park needs our help to continue providing comfort and enjoyment to city residents, workers and visitors. To learn more about how to support the continued rejuvenation of this unique historic park, visit lovelincolnpark.org.
Bicycles are not an uncommon sight in Lincoln Park and throughout the city of Portland. Both CycleMania and Allspeed are within a short walk of Verdante and Lincoln Park, and the Portland Gear Hub, just up the street on Munjoy Hill, offers space and instruction for maintaining your own bike. The Bike Coalition of Maine recommends basic bike equipment and safety tips, and also lists local bike clubs.
This area of the city—where Congress Street and Franklin Street cross at the corner of Lincoln Park—is one of the most walkable places to live in the state. With a WalkScore of 98, it is considered a “Walker’s Paradise” in that daily errands do not require a car. And who would want to drive when you can get there like this?
