BIDDEFORD — About 20 community members came together last week to weigh in on how to best renovate Shevenell Park in downtown Biddeford.

The park is a local favorite, nestled between buildings on 148 Main St., with shade from trees and tables and chairs to provide a comfortable place on a warm day.

Shevenell Park is included in Heart of Biddeford’s Adopt A Park program, an organization that, among other charges, works to maintain and improve Biddeford’s 12 parks: Rotary Park, Veterans Memorial Park, Washington Street School Park, Riverwalk Park, Mechanics Park, Foav Court park, Pierson’s Lane playground park, William’s Court, Clifford Park, Canopy Park, Memorial Park and Shevenell Park.

“We are working to clean up the parks and encourage other locals to care about the parks in their neighborhood,” said Holly Culloton, coordinator of the Adopt A Park program.

Leah Schaffer, a member of the Adopt A Park program, has taken on Shevenell Park as her adopted park, and has worked with others in the organization to formulate a plan to renovate the space. Pierson Nurseries in Biddeford and Terrapin Landscaping in Kennebunk will donate materials and labor for the landscaping of the park at no cost to taxpayers.

Schaffer and other members of the board held a public input meeting at Engine on Main Street on Thursday, May 2, offering members of the community the chance to speak about how they thought the park could be best improved. Prior to the meeting, the Adopt A Park board surveyed members of the community on what their experience was with the park, as well as what the team should prioritize when making improvements.

Residents who participated in the survey were prompted for both when and why they visit Shevenell Park. As to when the park is being visited, 27.1 percent of residents said that they visit in the evenings; 24 percent said on Saturdays; and 20.8 answered that they visit on weekday afternoons. As to why they visit the park, 25.8 percent said they use the park as a walkthrough; 20.5 percent answered that they attend for Music in the Park; while 19.7 percent answered that they use the park as a waiting area for the Palace Diner, which is located at the back of the park on Franklin Street.

Residents were also surveyed on what amenities they thought should be added to the park as part of improvements; the top three answer were better signs, a large mural and bird feeders. For activities, 16.4 percent surveyed said they would like to see a market in the park and 18.1 percent said they would like to see more music. Other suggestions were a water feature, WiFi and a public restroom.

The renovation of the park has been a long time coming.

According to Schaffer, the trees have outgrown the park, and the roots have lifted the landscaping slabs up, making the park less accessible as it creates an uneven ground that provides a tripping hazard.

“This park is so central, in the heart of the downtown,” Schaffer said. “We want to keep the park more or less the same, but improve it overall.”

Multiple options for a new layout were shown to those in attendance, all similar in layout. All options, while varied, had a throughline of amenities that are hoped to be included in the park, including installation of outdoor art, such as a mural; movable tables and chairs; and an outdoor stage with storage. The team would also like a welcome sign included on the guidewires in the entrance of the park.

To provide more space in the park, the number of trees will be reduced from the current four to three, which will allow the trees more room to grow and give the park a less cluttered look. According to Adopt A Park member Jake Pierson of Pierson Nurseries, the new trees will be better suited to the park, as the current pear trees are not a good fit for the small space.

“Having fewer trees will allow for them to be healthier and larger in the long run,” Pierson said. “We’re looking for narrow trees that won’t affect the surrounding buildings.”

Pierson also plans to include numerous plants for the park, allowing for a lush softscape.

For hardscape additions, plans include benches and movable tables and chairs, as well as a bike rack and informational signs. For the stage at the end of the park near Palace Diner, Schaffer said she hopes students at the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology at Biddeford High School will get involved in the planning and execution of the project.

Work on the park is anticipated to commence in September, with Pierson Nurseries donating all trees and plants, and Mike Corsi of Terrapin Landscaping in Kennebunkport donating all hardscaping. Employees for Terrapin Landscaping and Pierson Nurseries will also donate all labor for the park, which they said should take only seven to 10 days to complete.

Plans for the park have yet to be finalized, and Schaffer, along with the Adopt A Park committee, hope to be able to include more input from the community for the project. Schaffer said there will be another informational meeting regarding Shevenell Park in coming weeks, which will be announced soon.

For more information about the Adopt A Park program, visit heartofbiddeford.org/adopt-a-park-program/.

— Contact Staff Writer Abigail Worthing at news@inthecourier.com.

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