2011 Officers of Friends of Belfast Parks:
President: Carol Good
Vice-president: Charlotte Peters
Treasurer: Dale Kuhnert
Secretary: Cathy Gleeson
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Click here for
2010 Friends of Belfast Parks' Annual Report
| Click here for
2009 Friends of Belfast Parks' Annual Report
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The letters at the start of descriptions for each park correspond to letters on a map given at the end. Please scroll down to see the location of each park on the map.
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A. BELFAST CITY PARK was founded in 1904 by a group of local women activists, called the Belfast Improvement Society.
The gentle slope and extensive beach area are attractive features of this park alongside Penobscot Bay. Basketball courts, tennis courts, a Little League baseball field, horseshoe pits, a playgound, and a swimming pool bring thousands of people to this 15-acre gem of a park each year.
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| City Park |
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| Heritage Park |
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B. HERITAGE PARK is located immediately adjacent to the City's public landing.
Heritage Park is the location for the Friends of the Park annual "Arts in the Parks." It's a beautiful place to picnic, beachcomb, or sit and watch all the activity in the harbor.
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C. In 1942, the land which would become WALES PARK was donated by Helen Skinner, the wife of the US Ambassador to Turkey Robert Skinner (1933-36). The Skinners spent the last years of their lives in their Congress Street home, which is now known as the Ambassador Apartments.
Wales Park is a popular spot for pick-up games of football, soccer, and frisbee. There are horseshoe pits, a picnic shelter, and swings and monkey bars for children. Wales Park is within easy walking distance to town.
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| Wales Park |
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| Kirby Lake (aka "The Muck"). |
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D. KIRBY LAKE, aka "The Muck," was purchased by the City of Belfast in 1875 for use as a water supply. It was found to be insufficient for that use, but it was kept as a water source for fire protection.
The lake and the land around it are tightly surrounded by roads and houses, but the lake and the trees are home to a surprising variety of birds and waterfowl.
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E. Little, triangular-shaped ELEANOR CRAWFORD PARK is at the intersection of High and Church Streets. It is a cool spot to escape from the heat of a summer's day, and a peaceful place to observe the bustling activity of Belfast.
Eleanor Crawford was a member of the Field family, who owned the large house across High Street on Primrose Hill until the 1980's.
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| Eleanor Crawford Park |
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| Sportsmen's Park |
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G. SPORTSMEN'S PARK, a 21-acre tract of land on the outskirts of town, was donated to the City of Belfast in 1991. While no significant development has occurred, future development of its wooded setting could include walking trails, cross-country ski trails, and other outdoor recreation activities.
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H. BELFAST COMMON is two blocks from the center of town, and is on the former site of a poultry processing plant. This park was dedicated in 1999, and draws visitors year around. People fly kites, walk dogs, picnic, sun-bathe, and, in the winter, go sledding. There is also an amphitheater which provides a beautiful spot for concerts.
On a clear day, Blue Hill is clearly visible, and Cadillac Mountain, in Acadia National Park, can be seen some forty miles in the distance.
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| The Common |
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| Steamboat Landing |
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I. In 1999 MBNA donated a portion of its waterfront property to the City of Belfast. The Belfast City Council named the area STEAMBOAT LANDING in recognition of the historical function of the site.
The gazebo is used for weddings, concerts, poetry readings, picnics, and as place to just sit and chat. Children find it an enchanting place to play in summer months.
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J. WALSH FIELD RECREATION AREA. This includes the dog park, a baseball field (with concession stand), a softball field, and restrooms.
The dog park was created by Friends of Belfast Parks and members of the community as a gift to the city, its dog owners, and their dogs. It opened in August of 2008, and has been a runaway success. See the dog park page on this site for more information.
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| The Belfast Dog Park is part of the Walsh Field Recreation area, which also includes a baseball field, softball field, and restrooms. |
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| A - Belfast City Park; B - Heritage Park; C - Wales Park; D - Kirby Lake ("The Muck"); E - Eleanor Crawford Park; F - Eastside Mini-park; G - Sportsmen's Park; H - Belfast Common; I -Steamboat Landing; J - Walsh Field Recreation Area, including the Belfast Dog Park. Please see above for more information. |
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For more information, please e-mail us.
Mailing address:
Friends of Belfast Parks
P.O. Box 947
Belfast, Maine 04915
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