I’ve been riding, walking, and hiking the trails of Clifford Park for more than 20 years, and I have seen it undergo a remarkably positive transformation, from a neglected, litter-filled area to a jewel of Biddeford.
Clifford Park is about 150 acres, bounded approximately by Pool, Granite and West Streets and Parkside Drive. The Clifford family lived just across from the land they donated to the City of Biddeford, in the philanthropic tradition of other great families of the era like the Baxters.
It was dedicated in 1895, and has expanded several times over the last century, thanks to the contributions of Maine Coast Heritage Trust, the Boutin Family, and many others. The Freeman family donated 40 acres on the highest hilltop in Biddeford in the 1920’s. The park now includes tennis and pickleball courts; a playground; a truly magical children’s activity called Story Walk; hiking and biking trails; basketball courts; a skate park; picnic areas and grills; horseshoe pits; seasonal restrooms; and snowshoe and cross country ski trails.
Many Biddeford residents remember the Clifford Park Bandstand, which hosted live music through the 1950s. In fact, the granite stairs leading up to the old bandstand — which were quarried right in the park — are still there. A 1918 account from The Biddeford Weekly Journal tells of a Red Cross fundraiser at the bandstand with entertainment by Painchaud’s band and soloists. The program included renditions of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “The Star Spangled Banner.” A granite bench dedicated to local historian Raymond Gaudette, who was so passionate and contributed so much, is located along the way.
That same granite quarried from Clifford Park was used widely for buildings and monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial in Springfield, Illinois. Blasting and quarrying created deep pools tucked among the granite outcroppings. Many of these small ponds are now habitat for amphibians and other wildlife, and the park is home to many turtles and rare plants.
However, over time, the interior of the Park fell into neglect and became an intimidating place, littered with beer cans and other trash from parties and illegal camping.
In 2014, the Friends of Clifford Park was formed by Catherine Glynn and Katie Labbe as part of Heart of Biddeford’s Adopt-a-Park program. Among many other efforts, the group engaged metalworker Dana Peck (BHS graduate, Class of 1967) to replace a sagging chain link fence at the entryway with an attractive gate. Today, the group helps keep the park litter-free by planning annual cleanups, and maintains the perennial garden near the trail kiosk.
The Biddeford Rec Department engaged the Maine Conservation Commission to build two bridges to make trails more accessible. Apex Youth Connection and the Biddeford Recreation Commission, led by Joe McKenney, cleaned and marked trails. The Biddeford Police Department does a great job keeping an eye on things and Biddeford Fire Department has held trainings in the park and responds to any fire incidents, on foot with backpack equipment if necessary.
The “Friends of Clifford Park” Facebook page is a good place to stay updated on Park activities.
Early area settlers from the 1700’s, notably Rishworth Jordan, are buried in a family cemetery on the park grounds. This cemetery has fallen into disrepair, with some gravestones even taken away and used for fill. However, it’s coming back to its rightful place thanks to many volunteers, including Top Branch Tree Service, whose team removed the fallen trees that were preventing access. The Biddeford Historical Society coordinates these efforts and has placed a display in the cemetery which is well worth a read.
The park has been a go-to spot for mountain bikers since the late 1990’s. For a long time, the steep, rocky interior trails (such as the White Trail) were the only ones regularly accessed. When I would bring other riders out there with me, they would always be shocked at the difficulty — thinking riding within City limits would be easy. Since then, more accessible outer loops like the Black trail have been developed, and the network is quite extensive. But there is still some very technical mountain biking available within the park, among the toughest in southern Maine.
The Heart of Biddeford, together with Friends of Clifford Park, recently received a grant from the Sewall Foundation for trail markers, trail maintenance, and snow grooming equipment. This grant also helped cover the cost of an ecological study of the park. This very comprehensive and informative study was performed by a consulting ecologist and was presented to the Conservation Commission on Aug. 20. The study found that the park is home to over 20 vernal pools, which are ephemeral breeding grounds for amphibians. These wildlife hotspots host springtime frog choruses, spotted salamander eggs, and rare turtle species.
The Falls on West Brook, known as Thompson’s Falls, are a popular destination. It should be known that these beautiful falls are not within the park limits, and are made available only by the generosity of a local landowner. Please make an extra effort to treat this area with respect and keep it clean. A fun fact is that this is the same brook that forms West Brook Skating Rink.
The park connects to a forested area of more than 800 acres, and many local bikers and hikers have worked out routes that connect to Blandings Park Wildlife Sanctuary on Pool Street and Smith Preserve in Kennebunkport. One can envision continued growth of this trail network as outdoor sports have exploded in popularity, as families look to get clean air during the pandemic. However, all users need to stay on marked trails so that we do not offend private landowners. Upcoming cycling-related events include the Bike Your Park program, on the weekend of Sept. 26.
The park is larger than you might think, and it still is very easy to get turned around out there. Trail markings have changed many times over the years and some older ones can be confusing. Fortunately, the Heart of Biddeford-sponsored trail markers are a big improvement, making navigation much clearer. Maps of the Park may be found online at mainetrailfinder.org or on the ArcGis Explorer app (this is one of the only apps where the colors on the phone app match the blazes on the trails — plus, it shows the locations of vernal pools).
Camping and fires are not allowed in the park. Dogs must be leashed. Mountain bikers are asked to stay off the trails during wet times. ATV’s and other motorized vehicles are not allowed. Hunting and firearms are not allowed.
I hope that you will enjoy Clifford Park as my family and I have, for picnics, walking, hiking and biking. And may the music play on in the beautiful park for generations to come.
Marty Grohman lives in Biddeford and is executive director of the Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine (E2Tech) and writes on topics of environmental interest. He welcomes your feedback and column ideas at martin.j.grohman@gmail.com
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