Meet me at Merrill Park
The greater downtown area boasts a growing number of green spaces; Harbor Park, SK Whiting Park, Franklin Street Parklet, the list goes on but none are as little known as Merrill Park. The conversation below was one that we had time and time again with community members when talking about this sweet little pocket park on Franklin Street:
“Meet me at Merrill Park.”
“Where’s that?”
“Wait, you don’t know where Merrill Park is?”
“It’s the pocket park on Franklin Street, across from the Downeast Specialty Bakery, next to the municipal parking lots….”
“Oh, ya……. I think I know where that place is, but I did not know it was a park!”
After two years of having a version of this conversation in the community, we made the decision to host our 2021 Downeast Cider + Cheese Festival in this municipal-owned space, to highlight the park and show off its charm. Had it not been for Amy and Michael Reisman’s revitalization effort four years ago, hosting the festival at Merrill Park would not have been possible.
Amy and Michael Reisman goofing around American Gothic Style at Merrill Park, Franklin Street, downtown Ellsworth.
In 2017 Amy and Michael moved to Franklin Street. As Amy, a Heart of Ellsworth Board member began to settle into her new neighborhood she discovered this sweet little park less than a block from her house. With hardscaping mainly nonexistent, a lawn in desperate need of mowing, a lack of places to sit, and most importantly missing flowers, it was obvious to Amy that the place needed some love, a human touch.
Little by little Amy picked away at the clean-up effort. Each week, she and her husband Michael would walk the lawnmower down to the park to mow and pick up trash. Slowly the grass began to grow back. Amy moved rocks to create garden beds where she planted perennials with cuttings from her own garden. She purchased mulch, and brought in nutrient-rich soil and more perennials, all for her community.
Looking into Merrill Park from Frankln Street.
Now, four years later there is an increase in the use of the park for activities that include; reading a book from the Free Little Library that was installed by Downeast Horizons, eating lunch at the picnic table provided by the City of Ellsworth, enjoying a friends company while seated at the benches provided by Heart of Ellsworth or charging an electric car at one of the two electric car charging stations made possible by the City of Ellsworth’s partnership with A Climate To Thrive.
From the back of Merrill Park looking out to Franklin Street to the Downeast Specialty Bakery.
As Amy approaches her fifth season caring for Merrill Park she has also begun to share her talents with the City of Ellsworth’s Economic Development Director, Janna Richards who is leading the effort of the Franklin Street Parklet. Amy assisted Richards by helping with the layout and selection of trees and shrubs that will thrive in the space creating an oasis that beckons residents and visitors to enjoy downtown, Ellsworth. The trees perfectly frame City Hall, creating a gathering place for downtown visitors to enjoy historic architecture, shops, and restaurants. People transform communities but green space makes places thrive, creating a downtown Ellsworth community where people want to live.
Amy is not done at Merril Park yet. She has some additional ideas about how this little pocket park can be elevated to welcome even more visitors. In addition to her map below her ideas include yearly tree pruning, additional hardscaping, and public WIFI creating an outdoor workplace for professionals and students alike. We look forward to partnering with the City of Ellsworth to make some of these ideas a reality.
Amy Reisman’s Merrill Park aspirations for Merrill Park.
If you are interested in contributing, and being part of the beautification of your city please reach out with your ideas. We would be delighted to hear what you have in mind for your city and/ or connect you with current volunteer initiatives that make your hometown a community!