Back Cove, Portland, Maine
Encyclopedia
Back Cove is an estuary basin
on the northern side of the City of Portland, Maine
's downtown district. It is nearly circular and about one mile in diameter. A popular loop trail runs around the circumference of the cove. Being tidal, Back Cove dries out to mud flats at low tide and is not commercially navigable. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as Back Bay.
situated on Back Cove. Wrapping around the west side of Back Cove, the roadway served as the means to head north from downtown Portland before Tukey's Bridge
, now on I-295, was built. The road was part of US Route 1 until May 2007.
A 3.6 mile (6 km) recreation path encircles Back Cove. An offshoot in the stretch that runs parallel to I-295 leads to East End Beach.
The parkway and roadway began as an initiative of Mayor James Phinney Baxter
, for whom it is named. It was envisioned as one of four parks in the city (along with Deering Oaks
, Western Promenade
and Eastern Promenade
) which would encircle the city. Property owners donated the land next to the cove and the walking and biking path were filled in. Originally called the Back Cove Boulevard, the parkway opened in 1917. It covers 30 acres and the pathway is 2.25 miles in length.
Tree planting began on the Boulevard in 1921 as a memorial to World War I
victims.
Baxter Boulevard has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Portland as an historic landscape district, Maine
since October 1989.
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
on the northern side of the City of Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
's downtown district. It is nearly circular and about one mile in diameter. A popular loop trail runs around the circumference of the cove. Being tidal, Back Cove dries out to mud flats at low tide and is not commercially navigable. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as Back Bay.
Baxter Boulevard
Baxter Boulevard is a road and parkway in Portland, MainePortland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
situated on Back Cove. Wrapping around the west side of Back Cove, the roadway served as the means to head north from downtown Portland before Tukey's Bridge
Tukey's Bridge
Tukey's Bridge is a bridge connecting the neighborhoods of Munjoy Hill and East Deering in Portland, Maine. It is part of Interstate 295.-History:Several bridges by the same name have existed connecting the areas....
, now on I-295, was built. The road was part of US Route 1 until May 2007.
A 3.6 mile (6 km) recreation path encircles Back Cove. An offshoot in the stretch that runs parallel to I-295 leads to East End Beach.
The parkway and roadway began as an initiative of Mayor James Phinney Baxter
James Phinney Baxter
James Phinney Baxter was an American businessman, historian, civic leader, and benefactor of Portland, Maine.His personal library, containing over 100 leather-bound books of maps, portraits, engravings and personal letters, is available for reference at the Portland Public Library.- Biography...
, for whom it is named. It was envisioned as one of four parks in the city (along with Deering Oaks
Deering Oaks
Deering Oaks is a public park in Portland, Maine, which has a baseball diamond, tennis courts, a playground, and a pond. It is located west of downtown Portland and is bordered by Deering Avenue on the west, Forest Avenue on the east, Park Avenue to the south and Interstate 295 to the north. State...
, Western Promenade
Western Promenade
The Western Promenade is an historic promenade, public park and recreation area in Portland, Maine's West End neighborhood. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes a number of historic properties, including the Adam P. Leighton House. Maine Medical Center is also...
and Eastern Promenade
Eastern Promenade
The Eastern Promenade is an historic promenade, public park and recreation area in Portland, Maine. Construction of the Promenade began in 1836 and continued periodically until 1934. The park was designed by the Olmstead Brothers design firm and experienced its greatest expansion from the 1880s...
) which would encircle the city. Property owners donated the land next to the cove and the walking and biking path were filled in. Originally called the Back Cove Boulevard, the parkway opened in 1917. It covers 30 acres and the pathway is 2.25 miles in length.
Tree planting began on the Boulevard in 1921 as a memorial to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
victims.
Baxter Boulevard has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Portland as an historic landscape district, Maine
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
since October 1989.