Saco selected for T-Mobile Hometown Grant to revitalize Riverfront Park

The City of Saco has received $49,276 from T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant program to revitalize Riverfront Park.  

Riverfront Park is a small grassy area located along the Saco River on Front Street, a short distance downhill from downtown’s Pepperell Square.

The vision behind enhancing Riverfront Park aligns with the city’s Comprehensive Plan, which underscores the community’s desire for more outdoor gathering spaces, said Saco Main Street Executive Director Angie Presby at a check presentation ceremony on Saturday.

Proposed improvements include expanding seating with Adirondack chairs, benches and picnic tables; installing solar-powered lights and security cameras, enhancing landscaping, adding a bike rack, and making pathway and sign improvements, said Presby. The plan also includes creating a designated space for graffiti artists and placing throughout the park birdhouses painted by local children.

Amelia Foster, community coordinator with the Saco Recreation Department said that Riverside Park is one of the areas the city cleans during an annual Earth Day volunteer event. During these annual clean ups, people often remark about the potential of the park, she said. She noted that the adjoining trail along the river was rebuilt a few years ago through a recreation department project, and the suggested park renovations will draw more people to the area.

“It will be the perfect spot to enjoy takeout or a picnic after you kayak or paddleboard from the boat launch area, and it just has so much potential to be the cutest little area on the river,” she said.

To select Hometown Grant recipients, T-Mobile partners with Main Street America to oversee the grant program and assess applications based on their level of detail, community impact, feasibility and other considerations, according to a press release from T-Mobile.

“Vibrant main streets and accessible green spaces are really in the heart of every healthy community,” said Maine Downtown Center Program Coordinator Perri Williams. Awards such as the T-Mobile grant are made possible due to the work and dedication of local economic development group Saco Main Street, she said.

T-Mobile has provided more than $13 million in grants to small towns and rural communities since it kicked off the program in April 2021, according to the press release.

“Hometown Grants is T-Mobile’s way of giving people in small towns a chance to build a more resilient future, and it's incredibly inspiring to see the impact it’s had on 300 communities knowing there’s many more to come," said Jon Freier, President, Consumer Group, T-Mobile in a written statement.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.