Bridges ships and art…read more Harbor View park is an unusual little park that is basically under a highway bridge. Nice views of the under side of the bridge if that is what you are interested in but also some nice views of the docks and harbor once you get to the top of the park on York Street. Not a whole lot in this park, just some walking paths that lead under the bridge and then up to a grassy field. Several strange art type of sculptures are scattered around the park. They appear to be made from artifacts from the past. The best part of this park are the views. Great views of the harbor and ships that past through this area. If you are lucky you can even see a container ship being unloaded by huge cranes onto the docks. This is a park that is probably used mostly by local people cutting down from York Street to Commercial. It is a cool and very scruffy place that is probably not a good place to be after dark. But it is a very interesting place to visit for anyone tired of the usually touristy stuff in Portland.

Nice work city of Portland to make this public green space! It has a lovely view to the harbor, as…read moreexpected from the name. There is a lot of grass to throw around a frisbee, toss a baseball, run a game of tag, relax on a blanket, read a book and all the other fun outdoor activities you might enjoy on a grassy area. There are some trees around and some pathways. These pathways lead you down or up. Depends on where you started, but head down to Commercial Ave or up to the West End area, all while having the harbor backdrop. The park is visible from the Casco Bay Bridge, so of course, if you are in the park, expect a buzz from the nearby traffic. It still feels like a small tucked away green space that few take advantage of enjoying.

I'm not entirely sure how I ended up at Knight's Pond Preserve... a free afternoon on a sunny…read moreautumn day tends to inspire me to get outside and play, and before I knew it I was driving down what seemed like a very long driveway (Greely Road Extension) that eventually deposited me at a parking lot. The 300-acre preserve is the largest undeveloped parcel in Cumberland and was "created" in 2015 after conservation efforts led to the acquisition of a major portion of the land. The preserve features a 46-acre pond with an adjacent smaller pond that seems dammed-in (the trail doesn't lead to the stone wall that holds the water, but you can walk over carefully to see) that connects during wetter seasons - there's a wooden bridge to cross into the woods over any water that may be there, a fantastic trail system with great signage through dense woods (there's enough variety here that you could make your hike as short or as long as you like - personally, I like the White trail to the Blue trail, a digression to the FAA tower, to the Red trail, back to the White trail), views of Casco Bay and Mount Washington (on super clear days) from the ridgeline, an FAA radar tower, tons of birds... it's just a very, very nice spot. I came just to walk around and don't feel like I had the opportunity to see everything making me really excited to come back and explore more. Apparently in the winter it's a great spot for pick-up hockey games and ice skating, as well as snowshoeing! I'll be inside drinking bourbon and hiding from the cold then, but if you start to feel like you're getting cabin fever know this is an accessible spot year round!

Duck poop all over lol watch where walk on the pathways. Free parking by the entrance by ranger…read morestation.

gorgeous park in Portland, not far from downtown and close to Holy Donut if that's your speed. Well…read moremaintained walking trails. Excellent views of fall foliage!

If you've ever passed through this area of South Portland, you've most definitely seen Mill Creek…read morePark. It's a charming, extremely well manicured 10-acre urban green space that boasts of a gazebo, a pond (with a fountain in the warmer weather), a veteran's monument (located a bit off from the main area), and birds a plenty - this is a particularly favorite spot of Canadian geese. It's not very big, so you're not coming here to spend a day. But, it's a fabulous spot for a picnic, or to grab a coffee and sit with a friend, or to bring a book for some quiet time, or just to stretch your legs and get some fresh air. Despite the heavy car traffic surrounding it, it still feels peaceful. The park is also home to some lovely seasonal activities: in the summer they host Art In The Park; in the winter, you can buy your Christmas trees here (which I strongly suggest doing), go skating, or even just enjoy a stroll through the lit up trees during the holidays!

This is a lovely park in the center of South Portland, about half a mile from the Casco Bay Bridge,…read moreand walking distance to numerous stores and businesses including Hannaford, CVS, Goodwill, Pet Life, True Value Hardware, several banks and restaurants, City Hall, the public library, the Mill Creek Transit Hub, the summer farmers' market, and the Knightville neighborhood. This park has almost everything you'd want in a park: grass, shade trees, flowers, water features, benches, and a gazebo. The pond offers a lovely ice skating experience in the winter, weather permitting. South Portland's parks department does a fine job of maintaining this park, and the city has invested a considerable amount of money over the past few years to preserve and upgrade some of the park's features. South Portland's nickname is "the park city," a tribute to its large number of parks and public open spaces. Mill Creek is the centerpiece, and we're all very proud of it.

Paved paths, natural beauty, easy access, plenty of parking, port-a-potty. Boat rentals in the…read moresummer. So much to do - walk, bike, horseback ride or maybe even roller blade. Canoe, kayak, paddle board on the Presumscot on a hot summer's day. Something for everyone!

This park is a dog-walkers dream…read more There is a 2-mile loop that includes part of the mountain division trail that goes all the way around the park. There is water for your dog to jump into, and fields for him to run in. During the summer they have boat rentals. Along the walk is the Gambo Dam. There are a few bridges to cross as well. Trash is carry-in, carry-out but they do have a dog-potty bag station and a few port-a-potties. The park is very clean and well maintained. A nice swing set and picnic tables too!

This was such a cool park to explore. Gorgeous trail along the water and we saw a pair of bald…read moreeagles! The pet cemetery was really sweet and such a fun surprise towards the end.

I can practically see Mackworth Island from my livingroom window, and it's a quick drive--and also…read moreone of my favorite walks in Portland. It's no secret, of course, and as other reviewers have noted there isn't much parking. For some reason I've always been lucky that way and have always found a spot (to be sure, sometimes the only open one). What I recommend--giving away secrets here!--is to aim for just before or after prime times like first thing in the morning or lunchtime. Once you're there, this wonderful little island right smack in a city makes you feel like you're miles away. The trail is less than a mile and a half but you can easily linger in the many path detours to lookout points, several of which have benches with the most marvelous views out into the Casco Bay that you can find anywhere. I have a favorite spot to take a breather with a book and a good coffee, but I'm not letting on exactly where that is : ) I also highly recommend the side paths to the pet cemetery (not Pet Sematary!) where the original owner of the island, Governor Baxter, buried his many Irish Setters and one very special horse. Check out the tombstones; it's quite moving. Also be on the lookout for the famous fairy houses (hint: there's one main area and you'll likely find random little setups hidden throughout). I don't want to ruin the sense of discovery on Mackworth--that's part of the fun!

Amazing trail that follows the river near stroudwater village. The water is super calm and there's…read moreplenty of places to dock and set off on a canoe or kayak, right in town. It feels secluded from everything until you get to I-95, which as of 2020, June, is the end of the trail due to construction. Its super level and sprinkled with bridges, benches for resting/enjoying and plenty of little outlooks to the water. Parking is super limited and there's no street parking allowed if you come in from Congress st.

This park is a hidden gem! It's easy to drive by often ... for YEARS. It's such a treasure in the…read more"city" ... the trail is frequented by many; joggers, birders, walkers, dogs! It's such a beautiful spot to enjoy nature and get a quick little workout in. We are going back again tomorrow!