Presentation on the Fort Allen Park Rehabilitation Project at the Feb. 15, 2012 Portland Historic Preservation Board workshop. Author: Martha Lyon and Regina Leonard. Sponsored by Friends of the Eastern Promenade and the City of Portland Planning Department.

1. Fort Allen Park
Landscape Preservation Project
Design Development-Level Review
Martha Lyon Landscape Architecture, LLC
Regina S. Leonard, Landscape Architecture & Design
for
The Friends of the Eastern Promenade
City of Portland Department of Public Services
February 15, 2012

2. Where are we
in the preservation
planning process?

4. October 25, 2011
Historic Preservation Board Comments
• Maintain 50’ o.c. spacing of street trees along the
Promenade
• Move linear walkways to historically-accurate locations
• Plant trees along linear walkways of a size subordinate to the
Promenade trees

6. Program
Circulation & Access
Signs
Lighting
Memorials
Bandstand
Landscape Details
Dogs

7. Period of Significance
1890 - 1930

8. The City purchased land from
Henry Deering, Harry Fessenden
and Francis Fessenden in 1890
In 1891, Goodwin prepared the
first site plan for Fort Allen Park.
In 1904, Portland Mayor James
Baxter negotiated with the Grand
Trunk Railway to acquire
additional parkland on the north
side.
In 1911, the City purchased the
“Cummings Lot” on the south side,
bringing the total Fort Allen Park
acreage to 4.55

9. Between 1890 and 1896, the City added several other amenities,
including walkways, a loop drive, two overlook terraces, a flagpole, many
benches, and pole lighting. The original earthen fort berms remained.

10. Cobblestone gutters (added in 1894) and plantings of flowering shrubs
(added in 1897) further ornamented the park.

11. Tall elm trees stood along the Eastern Promenade, providing a strong
outer edge to the park. Plantings within were kept low to preserve the
views.

12. The City began to erect wrought iron fencing at the upper and lower
terraces in 1896. Lower terrace fencing appeared in 1896, and upper
terrace fencing followed in 1900. Plans to connect the two terraces via a
set of broad central steps were in the works as early as 1896.

13. Rodman cannons, used in the Civil War, were acquired for the park in
1900. (Note the houses standing along the park’s northern property line)

14. In 1913-1915, the gun from the battleship USS Maine was brought to Fort
Allen Park and mounted in a concrete base. This effort launched a long
tradition of siting memorials within the park landscape.

15. The Grand Army of the Republic placed a memorial bench in the park
in1926. (Note the small-scale beds of flowers and shrubs throughout.)

16. Preservation Plan
Design Features

17. Promenade Edge

18. Period of Significance Today

19. Proposed
Dimensions &
Materials
-Existing sidewalk
replaced with new
concrete
-Entry plaza across
from Morning
Street
-Relocated drinking
fountain and horse
trough
-Gingko “Magyar”
planted 50’ o.c.

20. Loop Road
(Horseshoe)

21. Period of Significance Today

22. Proposed Dimensions & Materials
-existing road widths maintained
-20’ wide profile; 40’ wide at Overlook
-16’ chip seal travel lane
-2’ cobble stone gutters
-smallest radius 71’ (minimum for bus = 40’)

23. Central Path

24. Period of Significance Today

25. Proposed Dimensions & Materials
-5’ width throughout
-poured concrete with broom finish
-reconstructed according to Goodwin
alignment

26. Linear Side
Paths

27. Period of Significance Today

28. Proposed Dimensions & Materials
-5’ width throughout
-poured concrete with broom finish
-reconstructed according to Goodwin
alignment
-modified to accommodate 9/11 and
USS Portland memorials
-lined on outer edges with small trees
that will provide 4-season interest
and wildlife habitat

29. Fort Allen
Berms

30. Period of Significance Today

31. Proposed Dimensions & Materials
-extended in length and raised in height to
match historic images
-re-surfaced with turf

32. Overlook

33. Period of Significance
Today

34. Proposed Dimensions & Materials
-raised curb removed and replaced with
concrete ramps
-overlook platform restored to its original
width (20’-8”)
-ornamental aluminum fencing replaced with
color-galvanized steel or wrought iron
-concrete steps and cheekwalls replaced with
granite

35. Seating

36. Period of Significance Today

37. Proposed Bench Arrangement

38. Overlook
Paths

39. Proposed Planting for Slopes &
Pathways Beds

40. Lighting

53. Next Steps
March 8 – Parks Commission Review
-Public Presentation
April 18 –HBP Final Public Hearing
May – Planning Staff Review
…implementation!