Discover Downtown Westbrook is excited to host a series of Jane’s Walks throughout Downtown Westbrook on Saturday, May 4th!
Jane’s Walks are citizen led informational walks that have become popular nationwide. These walks are held in memory of Jane Jacobs, an activist who fought against the urban development of Central Park. You will have the chance to join a variety of Jane’s Walks in Westbrook with topics including the history of the Presumpscot river, future plans for the downtown area, and the development of walking trails in Westbrook.
Jane’s Walks are being organized by Discover Downtown Westbrook. Thank you to our volunteer leaders: Michael Shaughnessy, Mike Sanphy, Robyn Saunders, and Rhonda Forrester!
Learn more about Jane’s Walks in Maine here. https://www.mainepreservation.org/janes-walk-me
2023 featured 4 walks from community leaders. We are excited to offer more walks this year!
The walks will take place throughout downtown on Saturday, May 4th. Each walk averages about an hour but will start at different times and locations. Schedule to be released soon. 🥾💓
Schedule at a glance:
10 AM – A Vision for Westbrook by the City of Westbrook
11 AM – Then and Now, A Walk Down Main Street by Mike Sanphy
12 PM – Downtown Thrift Walk by Abby Wilson
1 PM – Engineering, stormwater design and trails in our downtown by Rhonda Forrester
2 PM – Downtown Westbrook Tree Walk by Raquel Miller
4 PM – Saccarappa: Past, Present, and Future by Mike Shaughnessy
Scroll for times, meeting locations, and themes for our 2024 walks! Keep in mind that registration is required.
A Vision for Westbrook
by City of Westbrook
Time: 10 AM
Meeting Location: Vallee Square (Next to Frog and Turtle)
Distance: 1 hour, 1 mile
So much is happening in downtown Westbrook! In addition to Vertical Harvest’s urban greenhouse and the new municipal parking garage, there are plans to add housing, redevelop Saccarappa Park as a four-season pavilion, upgrade the downtown Riverwalk, and more! Meet and walk with city staff as they share the vision for the future of downtown. Westbrook Common is complete but there’s more projects to come! This walk will be led by a City of Westbrook employee who will talk about what’s happening now and what’s on the horizon as we lay the path for Westbrook’s future.
Then and Now, A Walk Down Main Street
by Mike Sanphy
Time: 11 AM
Meeting Location: Cornelia Warren Recreational Fields parking lot
Distance: 1 hour, 1 mile
This walk is led by local historian, author of the published book Westbrook Remembered, and longtime member of the Westbrook Historical Society – Mike Sanphy. Join Mike at 11:00 at the Cornelia Warren Recreational Fields parking lot (489 Main Street). Experience the stories, see the pictures, and remember – or imagine – what Main Street used to be.
Downtown Thrift Walk
by Abby Wilson
Time: 12 PM
Meeting Location: Dana Warp Mill Lobby (Main Entrance / Door 7), 90 Bridge Street
Distance: 1.5 hours, 1 mile
Bring a bag and your wallet for this Jane’s Walk! Abby Wilson, Discover Downtown Westbrook Event & Volunteer Coordinator and Westbrook resident will be taking you on a tour of Westbrook’s thrift stores.
We will meet in the lobby of the Dana Warp Mill and begin by visiting Common Threads Thrift and Gift Shop located in Suite 252 where you can purchase vintage fabrics, buttons, and all your sewing needs. Next stop is Northstar Vintage located on the third floor of the mill. The collection of vintage and secondhand clothes in this great studio will be open and ready to explore! Last but definitely not least is Bloom Consignment and Resale on Main Street where you can browse the inventory for a new spring look or hit up the sale rack for a great deal.
Engineering, stormwater design and trails in our downtown
by Rhonda Forrester
Time: 1 PM
Meeting Location: Riverbank Park Roundabout
Distance: 1 hour, 3 miles
Join us for a walking conversation about Civil Engineering and Urban Planning, with DDW Board member, Portland Trails member and Civil Engineer, Rhonda Forrester.
Curious about the engineering infrastructure working behind the scenes in our downtown? What do we, and should we, consider when connecting our neighborhoods? What’s so important about stormwater, anyway? Rhonda will share the planning and design necessary to create urban landscapes, and also talk a little about Westbrook history and the trails you can access right from downtown.
The meandering walk of just under one mile will start at the gazebo in Riverbank Park and our conversation will take us to the Cornelia Warren football field, and then along the river trail to the boardwalk.
I also wanted to follow up on part time time work on Jordan’s farm. I’d mentioned it to him a few weeks ago and while he is all set with help, he was going to mention it to the folks in the oyster co-op at their next meeting, since folks are getting ready to start up for the season around mid April. Unfortunately that has been postponed a few times but it should be happening in a couple of weeks and he will ask.
Downtown Westbrook Tree Walk
by Raquel Miller
Time: 2 PM
Meeting Location: Westbrook Common- 1 Westbrook Common, Westbrook, ME 04092
Distance: 1 hour, 3 mile
Join Maine Master Naturalist, Raquel Miller on an hour long tree walk through downtown Westbrook. Admire the springtime trees and learn how to identify the trees we walk by every day.
Raquel is a Wells 2022 Graduate from the Maine Master Naturalist Program. She loves to learn and teach about trees, wildflowers, ferns, and currently lives in Biddeford, ME.
Saccarappa: Past, Present, and Future
by Michael Shaughnessy
Time: 4 PM
Meeting Location: at the North End of the Dana Warp Mill
Distance: 1.5 hour, 1 mile
This walk will be led by Michael Shaughnessy, founding member of Friends of the Presumpscot, former Professor of Art at the University of Southern Maine, and Discover Downtown Westbrook Board member.
Westbrook has a deeply rooted relationship with the Presumpscot river, yet its history often goes unrecognized. Join Michael as he shares the fascinating history of the restoration of the Presumpscot river and its dynamic ecosystem. The walk will begin at the north (upstream) end of The Dana Warp Mill. We will visit the restored eastern falls. Then to the Fish ladder and Lower Falls. Then to the Western Falls. We will discuss the historic Indigenous, colonial and post-colonial significance, the restoration process, and the ecological importance of the falls. As well we will have a discussion about the future potential of the Falls as a regionally important public space in Downtown Westbrook.
