City officials, major donors and representatives from Portland Trails and the Nason's Corner neighborhood will be on hand as school children and the Breakwater school community present hand-painted shovels to be used to break ground on October 29 in the park. Breakwater has led this collaborative environmental education and community development endeavor to transform the school's playground and the adjacent Nason’s Corner Park into a natural, multipurpose play and learning area that will benefit the entire community. The public/private partnership includes Breakwater School, the City of Portland’s Department of Recreation and Facilities Management, the Nason's Corner Neighborhood Association, and the Portland Trails School Ground Greening Coalition.
"An initiative such as this serves to bring people together around a unifying cause, provides for the health and well-being of our residents, attracts economic development, and fosters the sense of community that makes Portland a city of strong neighborhood participation," wrote Portland's Mayor Michael Brennan in support of the project. "The new design, with its focus on creating a play space using natural elements, positions the play space to stand out as a contemporary green space for learning and creative play."
Flanked by Capisic and Albion Streets, the 3.75-acre open space is currently home to Breakwater's playground and approximately three acres of community athletic fields. Used heavily by the City of Portland's Little League, soccer, and football leagues and winter skating--as well as neighborhood families and hundreds of children who attend Breakwater's summer and after-school enrichment classes--the park is "a centrally located, highly visible, well-loved, and well-worn piece of real estate," said Richard Veilleux, member of the Nason's Corner Neighborhood Association.
With a final budget goal of $600,000, to date the partnership has raised almost $300,000, including significant commitments from Jane’s Trust of Boston, The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, the Moser Family Foundation and many gifts from individuals. The Griswold Family Foundation has offered a two for one matching challenge grant…every dollar raised will be matched with two dollars from the foundation up to $250,000!
For more information regarding funding, partners and how you can support the project please contact:
Martha Thompson
207-347-1287
mmaithompson@gmail.com
nasonscornerpark.org
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