PORTLAND, Maine – Portland City Hall is asking residents to help name a new park planned for the city’s Eastern Waterfront, a 3.5-acre public green space that will replace the Ocean Gateway queuing lanes and incorporate the nearby area known as the Amethyst Lot.
The project has been referred to as “Harbor Common Park” during planning, but officials say that title is temporary. Construction is scheduled to begin in March. The city’s Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department and the Planning and Urban Development Department have been working with the Portland Parks Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, to engage the public in designing and activating the new space.
City planners say the park will feature walking and biking trails, trees, native plantings, lawn areas, hardscape space for events or food truck activation, lighting, playful features, and parking intended to support nearby water-dependent uses.
Residents can submit name ideas through Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, through the city’s portal at portlandmaine.gov/NameThePark.
Mayor Mark Dion convened a Harbor Common Park Naming Committee to oversee the process, which the city says is required under Portland’s City Code. The City Council voted on Oct. 20, 2025, to amend the code to create a formal framework for naming and renaming city assets, including public spaces, streets, buildings, and other city landmarks. City officials say the change was made because Portland’s assets are part of the city’s civic heritage and the naming of them should follow a consistent process that includes community engagement.
Under the policy, the naming committee will solicit public nominations and recommend up to three names to the City Council’s Sustainability and Transportation Committee. The Sustainability and Transportation Committee will review those recommendations and vote to advance one of the proposed names, which would then require approval by the full City Council.
“On behalf of the committee, we’d like to thank everyone in advance for engaging with us through this process,” said District 1 City Councilor Sarah Michniewicz, chair of the Harbor Common Park Naming Committee. She said the committee expects Portlanders to bring creative, civic-minded ideas for a space city leaders describe as a major new public asset.
The city’s naming policy emphasizes that naming is significant and meaningful, arguing that a name can invoke emotion, create images, and shape how residents understand local history. The policy says names should reflect historic events, geographic or natural features, or people of unique significance to Portland, or they should recognize Portland’s cultural heritage beyond the city’s traditional founders and pioneers, including communities that have historically been excluded or minimally included in naming decisions. Names may also honor individuals or organizations credited with significant contributions that advanced major projects in the city.
At the same time, the policy outlines restrictions. City asset names cannot duplicate or closely resemble existing city asset names. They cannot be tied to religions, religious organizations, or religious leaders unless the leader is being recognized solely for civic contributions. They also cannot be the names of political organizations, candidates, elected officials, or current city officials and employees unless at least five years have passed since the person left their position. The policy also bars names deemed discriminatory, derogatory, or otherwise offensive toward a protected class.
