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| Arts in the Park will be held July 12 and 13 this year. Please click on the poster above for more information. |
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FRIENDS OF BELFAST PARKS
is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization
dedicated to the preservation,
improvement, and use of Belfast 's
Our goals are to promote community use,
enjoyment, and respect for our parks; increase awareness about the inherent value of green space;
assist in preserving and improving local park facilities; involve youth in local park improvement projects;
and support the Belfast Parks & Recreation Department.
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BELFAST CITY PARK was founded in 1904 by a group of local women activists, called the Belfast Improvement Society.
The gentle slope and extensive beach area are attractive features of this park alongside Penobscot Bay. Basketball courts, tennis courts, a Little League baseball field, horseshoe pits, a playgound, and a swimming pool bring thousands of people to this 15-acre gem of a park each year.
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| Belfast City Park |
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BELFAST COMMON is two blocks from the center of town, and is on the former site of a poultry processing plant. This park was dedicated in 1999, and draws visitors year around. People fly kites, walk dogs, picnic, sun-bathe, and, in the winter, go sledding. There is also an amphitheater which provides a beautiful spot for concerts.
On a clear day, Blue Hill is clearly visible, and Cadillac Mountain, in Acadia National Park, can be seen some forty miles in the distance.
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| Belfast Common |
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| Steamboat Landing |
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In 1999 MBNA donated a portion of its waterfront property to the City of Belfast. The Belfast City Council named the area STEAMBOAT LANDING in recognition of the historical function of the site.
The gazebo is used for weddings, concerts, poetry readings, picnics, and as place to just sit and chat. Children find it an enchanting place to play in summer months. |
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| This aerial photo of Belfast by Tina Shute shows the two green rectangles of Belfast Common; the darker green rectangle, along the bay, is Steamboat Landing Park. The smaller rectangle, closer to the viewer, and bounded by a red building, and a light blue building, is Heritage Park. |
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HERITAGE PARK is located immediately adjacent to the City's public landing.
Heritage Park is the location for the Friends of the Park annual "Arts in the Parks." It's a beautiful place to picnic, beachcomb, or sit and watch all the activity in the harbor.
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In 1942, the land which would become WALES PARK was donated by Helen Skinner, the wife of the US Ambassador to Turkey Robert Skinner (1933-36). The Skinners spent the last years of their lives in their Congress Street home, which is now known as the Ambassador Apartments.
Wales Park is a popular spot for pick-up games of football, soccer, and frisbee. There are horseshoe pits, a picnic shelter, and swings and monkey bars for children. Wales Park is within easy walking distance to town.
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| Wales Park |
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KIRBY LAKE, aka "THE MUCK," was purchased by the City of Belfast in 1875 for use as a water supply! It was found to be insufficient for that use, but it was kept as a water source for fire protection.
The lake and the land around it are tightly surrounded by roads and houses, but the lake and the trees are home to a surprising variety of birds and waterfowl.
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| "The Muck" |
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| Eleanor Crawford Park |
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| Little, triangular-shaped ELEANOR CRAWFORD PARK is at the intersection of High and Church Streets. It is a cool spot to escape from the heat of a summer's day, and a peaceful place to observe the bustling activity of Belfast.
Eleanor Crawford was a member of the Field family, who owned the large house across High Street on Primrose Hill until the 1980's.
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| Steamboat Landing |
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So many places in Belfast parks invite you to sit down for a while and enjoy the scenery. From this bench you can watch the boats and ships come in and out of the harbor, see kayakers launch from the beach, watch people throw sticks out into the water for their dogs, and see families beachcombing for treasure.
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For more information about Friends of Belfast Parks,
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