Visiting Parks

The City of South Portland offers residents and visitors access to hiking trails, cycling routes, parks, boat launches, beaches, fresh water ponds, and wonderful skyline views of the islands of Casco Bay.
Scroll down to view all parks, or use the interactive Parks Explorer! To locate all of our city parks or search parks by specific amenity, visit the South Portland ARCGIS website.

General Park Rules

Each park location may have specific rules and regulations, so please check posted signs for that area. Some general park rules are listed below.

• Don't litter
• Pet waste must be bagged and properly disposed of in a trash receptacle or carried out of the park. See more dog rules below.
• Don't bring glass containers on beaches
• Camping is not permitted
• Fireworks are not permitted
• Firearms are not permitted
• Open fires are not permitted
• Tobacco use is prohibited within 20 feet of all city-maintained parks, beaches, and outdoor recreational facilities
• No hunting or trapping
• Don't feed the wildlife
• No loitering between 9 pm and 6 am
• No alcoholic beverages or controlled substance
• No motor vehicles permitted on the beach

Dogs

Rules

• For areas where dogs are allowed off leash, dogs must be under voice and sight control at all times and be within 50 feet of their owner or keeper.
• If an owner or keeper has three or more dogs, at least one must be on a leash. If they have four or more dogs, all must be leashed.
• Dogs must be leashed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Willard Beach from Oct. 1 through Apr. 30. Dogs prohibited during the other months, except from 7-9 a.m. and 7-9 p.m.
• Dogs must be leashed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hinckley Park year-round.
• Dogs are prohibited on City athletic fields, fenced-in playgrounds, and school yards.
• Dogs and owners/keepers shall not enter upon or cross over any City sand dunes.
• Dog owners must pick up and properly dispose of dog waste.
• If a dog jumps on, barks at, or acts aggressively toward people and/or other dogs, or does not consistently come immediately upon command, or chases wildlife, the dog shall be leashed when not on private premises.
• The use of chuckit and other dog toys is prohibited at Willard Beach from May 1 through September 30. The use of chuck-its and other dog toys is allowed at Willard Beach from October 1 through April 30, but only on the section of Willard Beach located between Beach Street and Fort Preble.  Rocks, stones, and sticks do not count as "dog toys". 

Dog owners are responsible for their dogs and must always pick up and dispose of dog waste on streets and in parks and beaches, per Chapter 3 of City's Code of Ordinances. 

Resources for Dog Owners

Learn about dog licensing rules, why it's so important to "scoop the poop" and more on our Resources for Dog Owners page.