News Flash

There are many ways to get outside and play in South Portland this winter!

• Rent Youth Skates & Snowshoes – Rent kids’ skates and snowshoes at the South Portland Community Center at no charge! Rentals are first come, first served and good for five days. A fee of $50 or $75 is placed on your Rec account when you borrow the equipment and removed when you return it.
  
  
• Ice Skate – Lace up your blades and hit the ice when weather conditions allow! Skate at Mill Creek Park or Hinckley Park. At Mill Creek there is a shelter with bench for changing into skates. The Parks department clears the ice of snow at the Mill Creek pond when staff is available to do so, but you may need to clear your own skating area. Please note that Mill Creek and Hinckley Park are natural skating ponds, and not professionally maintained or monitored for safety. An adult should always ensure that the ice is solid and safe prior to skating, which is always at your own risk.
  
  
• Ice Fish – You can also ice fish at Hinckley Park. The ponds at Hinckley are stocked with trout. You might also find perch, sunfish, and bass. Those fishing must follow all State of Maine fishing laws. An adult should always ensure that the ice is solid and safe prior to ice fishing, which is always at your own risk.
  
  
• Snowshoe or Cross Country Ski – Groomed trails from cross-country skiing are located at Wainwright Sports Complex and the South Portland Golf Course. The Parks department grooms the trails as staff is available after roughly 4-6 inches of snowfall. These are great places for snowshoeing as well!
  
  
• Stroll Along the Greenbelt Walkway – The City maintains the Greenbelt year-round. Take a walk along the 6-mile trail that connects Wainwright and Bug Light Park. Please note that after snow storms, Public Works clears the Greenbelt after tending to streets and sidewalks, usually within a few days of a storm. Also note that the portion of the Greenbelt between Amato’s and Wainwrights is groomed for cross-country skiing.
  
  
• Explore South Portland Parks – City parks and those maintained by the South Portland Land Trust are extra pretty and serene in the wintertime. Hinckley Park, Clark’s Pond Trail, and Trout Brook are just a few places to bundle up and immerse in nature.
  
  
• Sledding – The High School is a favorite South Portland spot! Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth is another epic sledding destination, and there are many great sledding hills in Portland.