PORTLAND, Maine — Inspired by an urban forest outside a museum in Montreal, Jim Brady, the owner of The Press Hotel, wants to create a public park from June to October outside his soon-to-open hotel.
Dubbed “Federal Street Folly,” the temporary summer park would take over a section of Federal Street between Exchange and Market streets for the public to enjoy.
The city’s public safety, parking and planning staff met with Brady’s team on March 9 to discuss the proposal. It is expected to go before the City Council in April.
If approved, five parking spaces would be lost. “It’s an OK trade-off,” said Steve Hewins, president of Portland’s Downtown District, who endorses the concept that will bring more people into this pocket of the city. “We worry about parking, but the economic benefit for the merchants outweighs that here.”
Brady is working with local designers and builders to come up with a blueprint for the park that could transform the asphalt into a pedestrian paradise. “There is nothing like this in Maine,” said Brady.
This, however, wouldn’t be the first time Portland had a pop-up park. Last September, parking spaces all over the city were transformed into mini-parks for Parking Day. But while that event lasted one day, this would be in place for longer.
The plan calls for barriers, planters, benches, overhead lighting and outdoor carpeting. Entertainment and “light theater,” too, said Hewins.
“We have had very positive reception,” said Brady, who is holding back on releasing full details before his park is greenlighted. The proposal was announced at a downtown merchants meeting on February 26 and retailers give it a thumbs up.
Brady envisions the park to have “interesting street design elements,” and be a “place for the public to hang out.”
Though still a concept at this point, Hewins applauds the idea and suspects it will pass muster.
“To activate that upper area of Exchange and Market streets, what’s called the government district, the Press Hotel will push the Old Port uptown a bit,” and that will boost nearby businesses.
“My goal is to figure out if we could plant a seed and get it to grow into something,” said Hewins.
