Spring Light

A sunny morning in Fort Sumner Park. Looking back towards North Street instead of out towards the rest of the city.

 

Deering Oaks Pond & Park

A recent evening stroll past Deering Oaks Park. At one time the pond here was connected to Back Cove and would fill and drain with the tides.

Harbor View Ice Park

Icy conditions this evening at Harbor View Memorial Park in the West End. Safe travels!

Bell Buoy Aerial

An aerial view of Bell Buoy Park, which is where Commercial Street meets the waterfront near the State Pier.

Lilies in Baxter Woods

This season's water lilies in Baxter Woods. Seems like a scene that would make for a good painting perhaps.

Hopscotch Hero

Remnants of a hopscotch game in Longfellow Park (out in the Oakdale neighborhood of Portland).

Pleasant Street Park

These photos are from Pleasant Street Park, which is a small city park on Pleasant Street (how convenient). The park features some seating, a playground, and a basketball court. Don't let my photos of the graffiti around the park give the impression that it isn't cared for and family-friendly. 

Official Pleasant Street Park sign and playground in the back. There are a few benches along Pleasant Street to the right of this sign. 

In the back of the park, behind the basketball court. Above and behind this wall is Spring Street and the Civic Center. 

One of the borders of the park. 

Some of the graffiti. 

From the basketball court looking back at Pleasant Street.

Oceanic Gateway Park

The park space by Ocean Gateway is a nice spot  to wander around this time of year. Bring a book and pack a picnic.

Deering Oaks Fountain

For more info about the park: Friends of Deering Oaks.

Until December

Haven't taken any shots around here in a while. Here are some shots of Deering Oaks Park from this weekend. Looks like the pond will be ready to skate on soon.







And also, I miss the summer when I could take pictures almost any time. Now the only time I am able to take day pictures is on the weekend, assuming it's not ten below zero or raining ice. So that should explain all of the night shots I've posted recently and will continue to post in the near future.

Payson Park

With recreation fields, baseball diamonds, open space, and some good views of the peninsula, one should venture to Payson Park. You can see it in this Portland Trails map, at the top center. I'm not sure exactly who it is named after or how long it's been there, but it is connected to the Back Cove trail and is a popular place most of the year.

Postcards from Portland #1

Portland's largest public park is named so because of the abundance of Oak trees on the premises. It has a large pond (also used in the winter as skating rink), an amphitheater, baseball diamonds, playgrounds, tennis courts, and things of that sort.

Some Wikipedia info on Portland's Deering Oaks Park....

The area was the site of a September 1869 battle between the British, French, and Native Americans. The City of Portland largely acquired the land from the Deering, Preble, and Fessenden families in 1879 as part of the rebuilding following the devastating 1866 fire. The pond in Deering Oaks at one time filled and drained with the ocean tides; it was naturally connected to Back Cove until altered to suit roadways in the late 19th Century. Deering Oaks also hosts the city's monument to the Spanish-American War. .

Good to know!

Lincoln Park Bench

Taken a few weeks ago in Lincoln Park, which sits between Congress Street, the Cumberland County courthouse, Franklin Arterial, and Peal Street. Photomatix was used for the tone-mapping.