City News Round Up: Friday, August 1, 2025

Meetings & Agendas
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings, and to view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings. Read a recap of the July 14 City Council meeting. The City Council will hold two meetings in August, on August 11 and 25, with both meetings starting at 4:00 PM. 

Tonight is First Friday Art Walk! Download the map here. Join TEMPOart at the “Winged Kelp” temporary art installation in City Hall Plaza for live music with Portland Symphony Orchestra violinist, Matt Watras, and PSO violist, Kim Lehmann, during First Friday Art Walk. Music will be played at the top of each hour. Free and open to the public!

8/2-3: Back Cove Music Festival, Traffic Advisory and Information
The Back Cove Music & Arts Festival will take place Saturday, 8/2 and Sunday, 8/3 at Payson Park in Portland. Neighborhood residents as well as concert goers, please be aware of the road closure information as well as access to other areas of Payson Park. Read the alert for full road closure details as well as parking, shuttles, general park access information, and FAQs.

Preble Field Amenities Now Open
The fitness course and public bathrooms at Preble Field at Back Cove Park opened today! Mark your calendars for the grand opening of the full park, including the highly anticipated soccer field, on Friday, September 5th.

Art is the Heart: Arts District Banner Revitalization Project
This summer, Portland’s Arts District will come alive with a vibrant new infusion of creativity and color through the Arts District Banner Revitalization Project, proudly sponsored by the Portland Museum of Art and co-presented by Creative Portland, the City’s official arts agency, in collaboration with Portland Downtown and the City of Portland. Beginning mid-August, newly designed banners will be installed along Congress Street – the cultural spine of the district. Read the full update. 

Now Underway: New Street Safety Project on Washington Ave.
We’re using roadway paint, flexible traffic posts, and speed bumps to temporarily redesign Washington Avenue from Veranda Street to Ocean Avenue. The goal: test improvements aimed at making the roads safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers—before committing to permanent infrastructure changes. Road crews began work last week and will be working until August 6th to install the temporary safety features in Portland on Washington Avenue from Veranda Street to Ocean Avenue. Read the full update and share feedback here.

Coffee & Climate: Living Shorelines in Maine
Join our Sustainability team next week, August 8th at 9:00 AM, for a discussion about living shorelines in Maine with coastal geologist Pete Slovinsky from the Maine Geological Survey. Learn more and register.

New GPCOG Podcast: How To Build an ADU in Your Backyard
Don't miss two great recent “Let's Connect” podcasts with City staff! Hear from our Planning staff on the topic of Accessory Dwelling Units (or ADUs), and Parks staff with Portland Hearts of Pine founder, Gabe Hoffman-Johnson.

City-Sponsored Affordable Condos at Dougherty Commons 
Maine Cooperative Development Partners is still taking applications on a first-come, first-served basis for 20 new affordable condominium homes at Dougherty Commons, located at 57 & 65 Dougherty Court in Portland, Maine. This high-quality housing opportunity offers energy-efficient, zero energy ready homes at prices accessible to working Mainers earning up to 100% of Area Median Income. 

Neighborhood Mini Grants, Apply by August 30th
Do you have an idea for a project to make your neighborhood more socially connected, sustainable, resilient, or inclusive? Do you need help covering the costs? The City of Portland’s Sustainability Office is currently accepting applications for our first round of Neighborhood Mini Grants until August 30, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST.

New Loans Available for Storefront Upgrades in Downtown Portland
Interest-free loans of up to $20,000 are available to property owners and leaseholders in the Downtown TOD TIF District to finance upgrades to existing commercial properties with visible storefronts. View the map and read the full update. Potential applicants may direct questions to Nancy Martin, Business Programs Manager: 207-756-8019 or nmartin@portlandmaine.gov.

Portland Tree Canopy Project: Share Your Tree Story
This summer, the Portland Parks Conservancy is spotlighting local efforts to protect and expand the city’s urban canopy through weekly videos and an interactive map that highlights residents’ favorite trees and why they matter. Follow the Conservancy on social media to keep up with the project! Do you have a favorite tree or wooded area in Portland? Share your story to help grow the interactive map and celebrate what makes our urban canopy special, plus, you could win a free Conservancy hat!

Apply to Maine Community Bank's LaunchPad Competition
Maine Community Bank is accepting applications for its annual LaunchPad competition. One standout, up-and-coming startup will earn a $50,000 LaunchPad Grant, and another Emerging Business Award valued at $20,000. If you're building an innovative small business, check out the Judging Criteria and apply by Thursday, August 14 at 5 PM.

Revaluation Notices Distributed to Portland Property Owners
Our Assessor's Office has distributed revaluation notices to property owners. Property owners can review their new values online. New property values will be used for the Fiscal Year 2026 tax bills, expected in early September. Please note that the tax/mill rate will likely be adjusted downward due to the overall increase in taxable value. The revaluation does not generate additional revenue for the City; it redistributes the tax burden based on current property values. 

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates

• Read all the latest updates in the JULY 2025 newsletter or subscribe.
• See the schedules for free live music in City parks July and August. 
• Portland Youth Corps Fall Applications Now Open - Apply by 9/12.
• Compass Park Public Floats Closure: 7/27-8/3.
• Now open! Riverton Community Courts at Talbot School
• Playground Work in Progress at Nathan Clifford School.
• Reiche Pool is OPEN - join us for open swim!
• Summer Session registration is open for residents and non-residents.
• Sundays on the Boulevard: Now through 9/28, Baxter Boulevard is closed to vehicular traffic on Sundays only, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and OPEN for walkers, bikers, pedestrian traffic, and play! 
• Dive into Summer Savings! Our 2025 Summer Discount Ticket Program is here to help you save on your favorite local attractions
• We’re hiring for seasonal positions now!

Public Works Updates

• Visit portlandmaine.gov/PublicWorks for links to all the most recent DPW project updates. See all paving updates here.
• NEW 8/4-8/8: One-Way Alternating Traffic Riverside St/Washington Ext
• Traffic Advisory: Western Prom Project Resumed Monday, 7/21
• Ongoing: Hersey St Sewer Separation Project + Deering Ave Sewer Extension
• Back Cove South Update: Finishing touches are being applied now and a full grand opening is being planned for September 5th!

We’re Hiring!
We are hiring across several departments in the city, with a variety of open positions: healthcare roles (RNs/CNAs), trades workers, before and after school recreation counselors, lifeguards, 911 dispatchers, community health workers, and
more. Recently posted: Senior Accountant, Certified Code Enforcement Officer/Housing Safety, Telecommunicator (911 Dispatcher). Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning.