Visit One of These 10 Amazing City and Town Parks in Maine

Maine has some amazing city and town parks. Here are 10 you should definitely visit.

Need to take the kids or dogs for some outdoor time? Here are 10 parks and each one offers something super fun. Sometimes the term park is used loosely. One is a spiffy 'rest area'.

10 Amazing Maine City and Town Parks

Waterfront Park - Bath

The official name is the Linwood E. Temple Waterfront Park - but everyone knows it as the Waterfront Park. It's got everything. In the historic district of Bath and right on the Kennebec River! They've got restrooms (thank God), boat docks, decks, and benches. A perfect place to walk with the family and dog! Bath does a great job and it's super clean with gorgeous views.

Deering Oaks Park - Portland

One of the first places I went to when landing in Maine was Deering Oaks Park. It's a 55-acre public park in Portland. It's got everything from a baseball diamond, tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts, a playground, a splash pad, and a pond. In 1875, the Deering family had offered fifty acres to be used as a “park forever” on the condition that real estate taxes on their remaining property would not be increased for ten years. The fifty-acre Deering Oaks was deeded to Portland back in 1879. It was designed by the city's Civil Engineer, William A. Goodwin, who said he was inspired by nature. He added things like the bandstand, Victorian duck house, castle, and playground to keep the huge oaks company.

Limington Rapids Rest Area - Limington

This park is off of Route 25 where you will see a little sign for a 'Rest Area' just before you get to Standish. It's a really nice rest area with picnic spots in the woods, and a wooden bridge leading to a rock “island” on the Saco River. It's listed as a place to swim, but in some areas, the rapids are pretty quick - so make sure you know what you are doing or ask a local about where exactly to take a dip.

Riverbank Park - Westbrook

This is such a nice park in Westbrook. There's a playground, and paved paths, all along the bank of the Presumpscot River. I love grabbing lunch and finding a park bench and soaking up the sun on a perfect summer day. It's right on Main Street in Westbrook. It's open from dawn to dusk.

Winslow Memorial Park - Freeport

It's hard to find a family that hasn't spent some time at Winslow Park in Freeport. With a huge campground playground and water - it's a perfect (and convenient) place to either hang out for a week or an afternoon.

Bug Light Park - South Portland

Some of the best sunsets are at Bug Light Park in South Portland. The Maine Cancer Foundation would have their Twilight 5K around Bug Light and I can confirm - those sunsets took away the agony of running (I am not a runner). Walking along the stone way to the light is also fun. Do it on a nice day...sometimes the wind feels like it would blow you over!

Quarry Dog Run - Portland

This fenced-in hidden park is great for dogs. As soon as you get through the gate, you can unleash your dog and it's a sniff run fest. At the top of the hill is a dog meeting spot with a little picnic table and cover. Where you can get your pooch some water and chat with other dog owners. Sometimes it looks like a Disney film up top.
Presumpscot Falls Park - Falmouth

Presumpscot Falls Park - Falmouth

The best part about town parks is that they can be little treasures. Like the Presumpscot Falls Park that overlooks the Presumpscot River on Allen Avenue Extension. There's some cool wildlife on the north shore of the river. There's a rough little trail with a bunch of tree roots that winds through the woods. It ends just past where an old dam was. Careful...it goes up to private property that you should be aware of.

Springvale Park / Holdsworth Park - Sanford

The Sanford Rec Department watches over these two play areas near and on the Mousam River. From basketball courts to pavillions, to trails, to a skateboard area - this area in Sanford has it all!

Ellis Park - York

York is the best. Such beautiful beaches and the very popular Short Sands Beach is a quarter-mile-long sandy pocket beach tucked between rocky cliffs in the village of York Beach. It's in Ellis Park and has everything you need to have a relaxing summer day: public restrooms, seasonal lifeguards, metered parking, a large sandy playground, basketball courts, a gazebo, and a large grassy park area. A promenade walkway runs along the beach and has many conveniently located benches. This is super popular with tourists - so go now!