Category: Safe Streets

The Safe Streets Team focuses on public safety, walkability, infrastructure improvements, and crime prevention to make Bayside safer and more livable for all residents. The team works to address the reality that Bayside accounts for a disproportionate percentage of Portland police calls for service, while also advocating for improvements to infrastructure, lighting, crosswalks, and pedestrian-friendly street design. By monitoring crime statistics, engaging with Portland Police’s Midtown Community Policing team, and bringing community concerns to city officials, the team seeks to create streets where children can walk to school safely, neighbors feel comfortable greeting each other, and all residents can move through the neighborhood confidently. The team is now under the new leadership of longtime Bayside resident John Van Hoewyk. Contact safestreets@baysideportland.org for information

Pedestrian Safety Focus Group Success

On By BNA AdminIn Events, Safe Streets

The Bayside Neighborhood Association convened two sessions of the Community Voices for Road Safety Pedestrian Safety Campaign, with 10 participants attending each session. This initiative, part of the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety’s new pedestrian-focused safety effort in Portland, Lewiston, and Auburn, brought Portland residents directly into the creative process of shaping public safety messaging. Rather than using a traditional top-down approach, the campaign asked community members—many of whom walk daily as their primary mode of transportation—to help guide the message drivers and walkers need to hear, determine the creative look of the campaign, and identify where these messages would be most effective.

The sessions, each lasting 90 minutes, were designed to address the rising pedestrian injuries and fatalities in Portland by centering the voices of those most affected. Participants received $50 compensation for their time, and snacks and beverages were provided. Jeff Larason, Highway Safety Communications Program Director for Community Voices campaign moderated the program. The neighborhood-authored campaign that emerges from these focus groups is set to roll out in Spring 2026.

Paid Opportunity to Participate in a Pedestrian Safety Focus Group

On By BNA AdminIn Events, Safe Streets

Pedestrian injuries and fatalities are rising nationwide — especially in urban communities where many people walk out of necessity.  We need your input to change that, and you could get $50 for your time.

As part of their “Community Voices” approach, The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety is partnering with The Bayside Neighborhood Association to host a community discussion to learn from residents about the risks they see, the behaviors they witness, and the educational solutions they believe will work. These insights will directly inform the campaign’s content and outreach. Two focus groups are scheduled for Monday December 15th and Tuesday December 16th. Both groups will meet at 6pm in the Steve Hirshon Community Room at Unity Village, 24 Stone Street Portland. Please indicate your availability for either date below.

Participants are compensated with a $50 stipend. Applications to attend the focus group are being accepted by the BNA through December 12th. If interested please click here:  https://forms.gle/V5nNSyVMYykP2eHk9 

for more information email safestreets@baysideportland.org 

Neighborhood Meeting Dec 1st

On By Robert SylvainIn Events, Relevant Developments, Safe Streets, Uncategorized

The Harvard Kennedy School of Government is calling all Baysiders to participate in a forum to discuss the impacts of climate change and attendant severe weather events in our community. We want to hear from you, and hope you’ll take time to gather with your neighbors to share our thoughts, concerns, and ideas on how to move forward together.

Please share and post this flyer widely. Here are translated flyers for speakers of other languages:

“Join us for an interactive, in-person community engagement session focused on stormwater, flooding, and climate impacts in Bayside. Over about 90 minutes, residents will work together around a large neighborhood map to identify valued community features, share past experiences with flooding using simple color markers and optional notes, and highlight what kinds of resources or support they have used, or might need, in future events. It’s an opportunity for residents to share their own experiences and contribute to supporting the future of Bayside.”

PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT:

Help Shape Portland’s Emergency Operations Plan

On By BNA AdminIn Events, Safe Streets

The City of Portland is updating its Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) to improve how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.

Your insight is invaluable. We would like to hear your experiences and ideas to make sure this plan truly reflects the needs of our diverse communities. Your input will help us build a plan that is inclusive, effective, and ready for anything.

You can find all the details on the project page here: https://portlandmaine.gov/emergencyplanning

We’re asking residents to share their ideas and concerns through a survey and an idea board on the website, which are open now through November 30, 2025.

The BNA Safe Streets Team is involved with everything concerning pedestrian and bicycle safety, including but not limited to advocating for improved lighting, signage, and streetscape design, collaborating with Midtown Community Policing on crime prevention and enforcement, safe routes to school, and helping first responders in emergency planning efforts like this. We can do more when we raise our voices together. For more information on how you can help contact safestreets@baysideportland.org

BNA Team Reports September 2025

On By BNA AdminIn Arts & Music, Baysider, Citizens' Trash Brigade, Comms Team, Events, Garden, Governance, Relevant Developments, Safe Streets, Social Services, Trees & Greens, Welcome Team 
Bayside Business Breakfast Club — Stacy Begin, lead — Betsy Boyd, board liaison
	The Business Breakfast Club agreed to a new coupon idea for the fall cleanup rather than a raffle. This year every volunteer will receive some kind of discount from participating businesses. The group also discussed lending more support to the Baysider through an advertising program. The group is moving forward with a visitors’ map and applied for a $500 micro-grant through the city’s sustainability office to finish the project. Next meeting is Sept. 24th at the Maine Access Immigration Network on Oxford Street.

BNA Citizens’ Trash Brigade — Megan Holt, lead — Rob Sylvain, board liaison 
	Annual BNA Fall Community Cleanup, Saturday September 20th 10am-noon. Every fall for decades Bayside neighbors and friends have come together to clean up our streets and sidewalks and enjoy each other's company in preparation for winter.  This year every participant will be given a valuable Bayside Business Coupon Card, good for deep discounts at sponsoring Bayside restaurants, shops, services, venues and vendors.	

Relevant Developments Team — Amelia LaBreck, lead — Jim Hall, board liaison
	Councilor Michniewicz will address the board tonight regarding the former Federated Property now in city hands. A representative from Maine Music Alliance will address the board regarding the Live Nation project. Full list of current property development projects here: https://tinyurl.com/bnaprops 

Tech Team — Joey Brunelle, lead — Jim Hall, board liaison
	New deadline for submissions to the next issue of the Baysider is September 3rd. Advertising is being solicited to offset printing costs. Johnny Sylvain has successfully ported the google calendar, contacts, and email forwards to the new admin account.
	
Garden Team — Holly Picotte, lead — Susan McClosky, board liaison
	The garden is in full bloom and is looking very beautiful!
	
Tree Team — Avery Yale Kamila, lead — Susan McClosky, board liaison
	The Tree Hugging event sponsored by the Bayside Neighborhood Association and Portland Parks and Recreation is now scheduled for Saturday, September 13th on the Bayside Trail. The Penobscot Nation drum group will perform a welcome ceremony, Portland’s Supervising Park Ranger Liz Collado will lead a forest bathing experience, Rangers will also serve white pine tea, and have tree-related resources and information available. City Arborist Mark Reiland will be displaying the trunk of the oak tree removed from Oxford Street to spark interest in a future public art project. Deirdre Paul is designing a flyer for Am-at-eur Service to print.

Art Team — Kincaid Pearson, lead — Betsy Boyd, board liaison
	Portland Downtown’s utility box painting program call for artists ends September 2nd. Seeking funding for a public art project using material from the oak tree recently felled to make way for Reveler’s apartment building at 89 Elm Street. Amelia Labreck has agreed to assist in reviving the BNA Black Frame Art Sale fundraiser. 

Safe Streets Team — 
Bowman has stepped down as team lead. Looking for new leadership. Scott Morrision reports the following through Jen Rogers at Midtown Community Policing:
a) August 2025- Citywide- 6,852 ; Bayside-1,040 ; 15.18% 
b) August 2024- Citywide- 6,873; Bayside- 1,187; 17.27% 
c) 2025 Bayside Monthly Average- 19.33% (2024 avg.-19.28%) 
d) 2017-2025 Bayside Monthly Average- 18.13% 

BAYsideBees Events team — Deidre Paul, lead — Peter Markoe, board liaison
	Deidre and Peter have aligned on a date for the Pet Costume Parade and Block Party.  We are eyeing the Bayside trail as the location, and have applied for the city block grant to help fund activities that will bring neighbors to the event, whether they have a pet or not.  

Budget and Finance Committee - Chair Peter, Tom, Rob.
	The finance committee has not officially met, but the GiveButter campaign is live, and we already have two donors! 

Membership and Outreach Committee - Chair Colette, Betsy, Susan.
	(Corrections welcome) The MO committee met in mid-August to formulate a plan for canvassing the neighborhood. They generated a form that can be included as a QR code within the membership packet. We are figuring the best date and time to begin canvassing along with routes and groupings.

Portland BikePed Audit

On By Bayside Neighborhood AssociationIn Safe Streets

The Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee held an Audit of Park Avenue and Portland Street, between St. John Street and Hanover Street , on Sunday, May 18th at 10 AM. Members of the committee led by Winston Lumpkins, representatives from several neighborhood associations, and interested citizens were joined by city councillors Sarah Michneiwicz, Wesley Pelletier and Pious Ali, meeting in Deering Oaks Park at the base of Mellen Street to make a loop, experiencing the parking-separated bike lanes on both sides of Park Ave before crossing Forest Ave into Bayside, where bike lanes transition to the traffic-side on Portland Street.

The Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee aims to gather community feedback via this audit to help inform the city about what had worked—and what had not worked—about the Park Ave lanes, thereby informing the design of future roadways and any potential redesigns on Park Ave. Design work on a future plan for Forest Ave is underway, and parking-separated bike lanes are under consideration for that design.

More information about The Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, visit https://www.portlandbikeped.org or email pbpac.chair@gmail.com

Mid-month Update

On By Robert SylvainIn Business Club, Citizens' Trash Brigade, Comms Team, Governance, Relevant Developments, Safe Streets, Uncategorized

Lots going on in Bayside, and the BNA teams are rising to meet the moment. If you want to join a team, just send an email to any of the groups below, and a team lead will get back to you asap. If you have an idea for a team and want to get it started, we want to hear from you. Let’s do it!

The Tech Team is working on better communication pathways for the general membership, including mailchimp, which will allow us to send targeted email news and allow subscribers to tailor how they receive updates from various teams. We’re also now using google workspace to organize teams into google groups that can share files, calendar events, to-do lists, plus follow and archive conversations by topic within each team and between teams. Setting up the groups in a way that is simple to use but powerful enough to keep track of team tasks and communications, calendar events, shared files and important links has proven to be a challenge, but worthwhile. If you have experience and/or interest in admin tools please consider joining the tech team and helping us out.

Recent News

December’s Safe Streets Meeting was met with a strong response from the community and from the media. Troy Bennett from Bangor Daily News was in attendance and wrote this article about the effort and subsequently WCSH6 Newscenter Maine picked up the story as did WGME CBS13 shown below. The next Safe Streets Team meeting will be Tuesday, February 25th, 6:00pm in the Steve Hirshon Community Room at Unity Village, 24 Stone Street, Portland.

If you missed last month’s BNA Board meeting on zoom, you can view a recording of it here:
BNA Board Meeting January 7 2025 See below for details on the next board meeting.

Upcoming Events

Saturday January 25, 11am
BNA Citizens’ Trash Brigade
Parris Street Block Walk

UPDATE: With the recent snowfall we’re pivoting to salt & sand for sidewalks on Parris Street, which has several spots that need attention. We’ll provide buckets of sand & salt from the city lot, shovels and a few ice choppers. If you have an ice chopper please bring it! We’ll warm up afterward at Wilson BBQ. 

OP: We’re coming together for a short pickup party targeting Preble Street in particular, focusing on bits and butts that get overlooked during the Spring & Fall cleanup, and also to get eyes on the street to take stock of the pedestrian experience, flag infrastructure concerns, and to get to know each other. Afterward we’re planning to gather at Wilson BBQ to warm up, wind down, and plan for next month’s block walk. We’ll meet at 72 Parris Street and walk together. Trash bags and gloves provided.

Monday January 27, 6:00pm
Portland Music Hall Presentation
Composing Room @ Press Hotel
119 Exchange St, Portland, ME

The BNA Development Developments Team invites Baysiders to attend a public presentation by Portland Performance Ventures, LLC on their proposal for a 3,300-seat Live Nation music venue at the site of the old Press Herald printing press building across Myrtle Street from the Merrill Auditorium in Bayside. More information on the project is available on the city of portland website here:  https://selfservice.portlandmaine.gov/

Wednesday January 29, 8:30am
Bayside Business Breakfast Club
Isa Bistro, 79 Portland St. Portland, ME

The Bayside Neighborhood Association is starting 2025 with a renewed commitment to connecting with diverse stakeholders and providing opportunities for community members to come together in pursuit of shared goals. To that end, we’re excited to present the first of what will be monthly events specifically for Bayside business owners to meet in an informal setting to meet, chat, and plan a better future for all Baysiders.

RSVP here to get an invitation:  https://forms.gle/hWHtLfRxynBA2NrYA 

Next BNA Board Meeting:  Tuesday, February 4, 2025 6:00pm in the Steve Hirshon Community Room at Unity Village, 24 Stone Street. Open to the public. Please email info@baysideportland.org for more information. Check our community calendar often for updates and more events.

http://www.baysideportland.org

Mission Statement:
“The Bayside Neighborhood Association (BNA) empowers the Bayside community by building meaningful partnerships that promote health, safety, green spaces, diversity, housing, and sustainable development for all who live, work, and play in this unique urban neighborhood.”

We need your help! Please consider a tax-deductible donation to the BNA, a 501c(3) non-profit organization. Contact Jim Hall, treasurer for more information at jim@baysideportland.org

Safe Streets Team Meeting

On By Robert SylvainIn Safe Streets

Tuesday, December 17th, 1pm

in the Steve Hirshon Community Room at Unity Village, 24 Stone Street Portland

Please help us help our neighbors who have recently experienced violent assaults in our cherished community. We’re committed to making sure all our residents, visitors, and workers feel safe walking the streets of Bayside at any hour. It is vitally important to raise our voices together against violence of any kind. We’ll be joined by Jennifer Rogers of Midtown Community Policing who will talk us through the current situation on the street, the history of violent crime in the city, and the responses and solutions at hand. Everyone is welcome to attend and encouraged to speak their mind. We want to hear your struggles, your ideas, and your hopes for the future of Bayside. For more information reach out to info@baysideportland.org

Thanks for being part of the solution!

Here’s a report put together by Safe Streets Team board liaison Deborah Van Hoewyk:

Engaging BaysideDownload
Residents of Portland’s ‘crime central’ neighborhood take action

The “Scattered” Site Model: a History

On By BNA AdminIn Relevant Developments, Safe Streets, Social Services

Opinion: YET ANOTHER TASK FORCE?? AYFKM?!?

500+ articles on homelessness in Portland and Maine

Shelter 2.0 – A little planning makes a lot of difference

Shelter Policy Resolution Support Letter

BNA supports Bayside shelter moratorium

An Absence of Equity – It Takes A Bigger Village

BNA Opposes New Preble Street Shelters in Bayside

Concentration:  What you see is not what will be

The BNA supports the new shelter redesign and relocation proposal.  
Read our letter.

General info and resources on the City of Portland shelter relocation and redesign initiative.

The new Riverside Homeless Services Center
The now defunct Oxford Street Shelter