City News Round Up: Friday, October 9, 2026 

UPCOMING MEETINGS

• Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Council, Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings, and to view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings.
• Read a recap of the October 5 City Council meeting. The next City Council meeting is Monday, October 19 at 5:00 PM.

NEED TO KNOW

Road Closure: Starting Monday, October 12 through Friday, October 16, Ocean Avenue (between Forest Avenue and Chenery Street) will be fully closed to through traffic daily from 7 AM to 5 PM and overnight Thursday into Friday.

• City Hall Closure: Portland City Hall and City offices will be closed Monday, October 12, 2026, in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. Trash and recycling will be collected as normal.
• Congress Square Project Update: Installation of new planter beds is complete; the overhead traffic signal pole and the majority of remaining site elements are targeted for completion late this fall. ⁠Final paving is expected to be complete in Spring 2027. Thank you for your continued patience as we build a better Congress Square!
• Go Vote! In-person absentee voting began Monday, October 5, and runs through Thursday, October 29, in the State of Maine Room, 2nd Floor of City Hall. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Clerk's Office will remain open until 7:00 PM on Thursday, October 29 only.
• Parking Reminder: Attention residents who live or park on the peninsula and near USM! Overnight street maintenance parking restrictions went back into effect October 1 (daytime also, in some areas). Please remember to check posted signs to avoid tickets & towing! Regulations are in effect annually from October 1 - May 31. This applies to all citizens who live or park on the peninsula (and the Nathan Clifford area).

LATEST NEWS AND CITY EVENTS

• Portland Police will hold an Open House/Touch-A-Truck event TOMORROW, Saturday, October 10, at 250 Canco Road from 9 AM to 12:00 PM. Join for a chance to connect with the people who serve our city every day!
• Vision Zero: We have begun “daylighting crosswalks” as part of our Vision Zero commitment. Daylighting is the practice of ensuring authorized vehicle parking is set back far enough to allow sufficient visibility at intersections, crosswalks, and driveways. This removes blind spots and means that drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians can see each other clearly before entering the crosswalk. 
• Portland in Motion: If you missed "A More Walkable Portland", a special presentation by Jeff Speck, which was held on Wednesday at the Portland Museum of Art, don’t worry! We recorded it and it’s now available on our YouTube Channel. The event featured a panel discussion on Portland in Motion, the City’s first comprehensive transportation plan in more than 30 years, and a conversation about a more walkable future for Portland. Learn more at portlandmaine.gov/InMotion. 
• Nominate Your Tree! Along with Portland Downtown, we are excited to announce a community-wide effort to find the ideal tree to light up Monument Square this winter season! Submit your tree by November 1, 2026. The chosen tree will be carefully removed and transported from its current location at no cost to the owner. 
• Learn more about the impact of native plants on our environment and communities at the next Coffee & Climate on Friday, October 16 at 9 AM!
• Our Public Health team invites you to a FREE, resource-packed Reiche Parent Cafe & Baby Fair Thursday, October 22, 10 AM-11:30 AM, at the Reiche Community Center.
• Join Age-Friendly Portland for their FREE annual summit on Wednesday, October 28 (9 AM to12 PM) at the Barron Center Campus (1145 Brighton Ave). This year's theme is Community Engagement and Staying Active in Retirement! 

CITY SERVICES

• The first half of property tax payments are due on October 16, 2026, and the second half is due on March 12, 2027. Residents can also drop off payments in our Tax Payment Box in the City Hall lobby, right next to the Greeter's Desk.
• Yard Waste Collection: Our Public Works crews will be collecting leaf bags November 1-27. Please follow the curbside guidelines to help our Public Works team work efficiently and smoothly.
• We’re continuing to expand year-round public bathroom access! Two more were recently added on the Bayside Trail and on Spring Street, increasing the total number of city-managed public bathrooms to 18.
• Stay Connected with Portland Police Department! Sign up for their new quarterly newsletter featuring news, community updates, public safety information, crime statistics, and more.

PUBLIC WORKS UPDATES

• We recently issued a Request for Proposals for a Comprehensive Street Lighting Safety, Asset, and Modernization Assessment. This project represents a significant step in our commitment to public safety, infrastructure reliability, and its commitment to Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate fatal and serious-injury crashes on roadways. 
• Update: Construction on City Hall's Ganley Plaza is now expected to be completed by October 16. The bus stop currently placed at Congress and Chestnut Street will then move to Congress and Myrtle St.
• Update: 2026 Ocean Ave Sidewalk Project

PARKS, RECREATION AND FACILITIES UPDATES

• Read the latest updates in the September 2026 newsletter or subscribe. First Light Common is coming soon!
• Jr. Celtics Gallager and Caldwell basketball registration opens today. Register by: Monday, October 26.
• The first of three FREE Portland Recreation Community Nights is tonight at East End Community School, 5:30 - 7 PM. All ages are welcome!
• The next Park Ranger Hike Club is October 10, 10 AM to 12 PM, at Presumpscot River Preserve (Gray Road Trailhead: 30 Gray Rd, Falmouth).
• Join us for a free Deering Oaks History Walk with Herb Adams, this Sunday, October 11, at 1 PM.
• Coming Soon: Monster Mash and Splash Thursday, October 29, at 5:30 PM at Reiche Pool. 
• Looking for the Reiche pool schedule? Find it on Portland MyRec. 
• Join Spirits Alive in October at the Eastern Cemetery for Walk Among the Shadows 2026, Burial Ground Blues.
• Check out all of the fun and exciting new Recreation Programs this fall on Portland MyRec, including our new Critter Crawls Nature Walks, a great way for young children and their grownups to learn in nature.

SHAPE YOUR CITY

• Take the Safe Streets for All 2026: Post Installation Survey! Greater Portland Council of Governments wants to hear your thoughts about the temporary safety improvement projects in place on Commercial Street in Portland.
• Take this quick community survey about the Portland Urban Forest Management Plan - now open until October 31, 2026.

COMMUNITY NEWS

• Bus Adventure for Older Adults: Join Greater Portland Metro to learn how to trip plan, apply for a reduced fare pass, and ride the bus to visit a local cafe. Free to attend, RSVP via email to: mobilityforall@gpcog.org. Date: October 16, 9:30 AM to12 PM. Meet at Metro Pulse, 21 Elm Street.
• You’re also invited to a Portland City Council Candidates Forum for the District 4 and 5 seats on October 14 at The Light Church.
• Save the date! The Portland Lantern Walk returns Sunday, October 25 at 5 PM in Deering Oaks Park. 
• Join City Arborist Mark Reiland and Community Tree Steward Ashley McHugh Thursday, Oct 15, 4-5 PM for a walk through Evergreen Cemetery to explore Portland's urban forest through the lens of Ashley's video series, which highlights extraordinary trees across the city.
• Bookmark our Park Events Calendar for a list of local events.
• Affordable Homeownership at Dougherty Commons & Lambert Co-op: One 3 Bedroom Condo and one 1 Bedroom Condo ready for move-in at Dougherty Commons, and 1 & 2 BRs available at Lambert Co-op, move-in April 2027. Visit their website or call Richard at 207-560-4883.