Today, The City of Portland announced the expansion of the historic Riverton Trolley Park.  In a press release, city spokesperson Jessica Grondin says that the City’s Land Bank Commission has added a new parcel of land to expand the park.

Grondin says the new park space provides significant wildlife habitat with mature white pines, water quality protection for the Presumpscot River, and protects the viewshed of the historic park located off Riverside Street and Forest Ave.  “The Trolley Park is a gem within our park system, and we are thrilled to be able to afford additional park space and protection for this public location in the growing Riverton neighborhood,” said Danielle West, Interim Portland City Manager. ”  The City of Portland, through the Land Bank, works to balance open space with development and affordable housing to ensure the “Forest City” continues to offer these amazing natural areas to residents and visitors to the city.”

The city says that the project was made possible by a “generous donation” from Allagash Brewing, which has brewed in the Riverton neighborhood since 1995.  “We’ve been here since we opened,” said Rob Tod, founder and brewer at Allagash.  “And a lot of our employees live right here.  Helping out with the Trolley Park was an important opportunity to help make our community a better place for everyone.”

Pat Bailey, chair of the Land Bank Commission, remarked that “existing Land Bank properties, in addition to projects that are currently underway to secure other open space throughout the city, provide significant public benefit by providing easy access to nature right here in the City of Portland.  Thanks to Commissioner Jon Kachmar for spearheading this acquisition.”

Additional open space projects that the Land Bank is working on include Redlon Woods in the Rosemont neighborhood and North Deering Conservation Area located in North Deering between Auburn Street and Washington Avenue, among others.