Revitalizing Play: The Will's Playground Renovation Project

Will's Playground (the official name for the playground on the Eastern Promenade) is preparing for a complete transformation. Originally established over a century ago in 1917, with updates to the playground location and design in the 1930s, early 1970s, 1985 and 2004, the playground's current equipment, including swings that are more than 50 years old, is ready for an overhaul to meet modern standards of safety, accessibility, and fun.

Following City funding awarded in 2025 to Portland's Parks, Recreation & Facilities department, a comprehensive redesign effort is officially underway.

The Portland Parks Conservancy’s role in this effort is to provide fundraising and community engagement support. Together with the City, partners and input from our community, we aim to build one of our region’s great playgrounds for all to enjoy.

"This site has been home to a playground for over a hundred years, and we are excited to build a new playground here that will be a destination for all Portland families. The iconic site high on the bluffs of the Eastern Promenade, with panoramic views of the ocean and the islands, provides a uniquely-Portland canvas for creating a playground beloved by children of all ages." - Ethan Hipple, Director of the City of Portland’s Parks Recreation and Facilities Department

Project Vision and Goals

The renovation aims to create a landmark play area tailored to the local community. Key goals for the design include:

Updated & Site-Specific Equipment: Replacing aging structures with play equipment designed specifically for the site.
Access & Inclusivity: Ensuring full ADA accessibility so children of all abilities can play together.
All-Ages Engagement: Creating play spaces that appeal to and accommodate a wide range of age groups.
Environmental Integration: Protecting existing trees, maximizing natural shade, and leveraging scenic views.
Year-Round Usability: Designing thoughtful infrastructure to support play across all seasons.

Leadership and Expertise

The project is being led by landscape architecture and engineering firm Weston & Sampson, featuring a team of specialists in playground design, safety and accessibility, public engagement, and civil engineering. A broad Project Working Group brings together key local community members and organizational representatives. The group includes representatives from the Friends of Eastern Promenade, Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine, Trust for Public Land, Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Association, TEMPOart, Portland Parks Commission, Natural Helpers, Boys and Girls Club, and the Portland Housing Authority, alongside leadership from the City’s Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department and the Portland Parks Conservancy.

Estimated Timeline

The renovation process will span several phases to ensure extensive public input and quality construction:

Fall 2026 – Winter 2027: Community engagement, site assessment, and initial concept & schematic design.
2027: Design development, permitting, construction documentation and fundraising.
Winter 2027 – Spring 2028 (if funding is secured): Contractor bidding and contract award.
2028: Construction phase leading to project closeout.