Westbrook Riverwalk

Westbrook, Maine

The Presumpscot River flows through the center of downtown Westbrook passing through several dams, under two bridges, between commercial, residential and public open spaces.  Despite its central presence it remains a 19th century river, virtually ignored by the community and harnessed for power that is no longer necessary. The Riverwalk is the first completed phase of a broad urban waterway redevelopment plan to re-engage the river as a civic space and community development tool.

Developed through a public participation process, the Riverwalk follows a series of public lectures and a community charrette, and was refined to incorporate economic development opportunities and public/private partnership.

A cantilevered wooden boardwalk follows the river for a quarter mile from its head at Saccarappa Falls, connecting to existing and future businesses to the river, to the neighboring downtown community and beyond to residential neighborhoods and recreational facilities downriver.  A pedestrian bridge crossing the river will ultimately link neighborhoods on the north bank to the Commercial District and neighborhoods in the downtown. The walkway links into this urban network through coordinated material patterning, street furnishings and comprehensive signage and graphics.