GMS Logo Horizontal GMS Logo Horizontal
    • Featured
    • ALL EVENTS
    • ALL PLACES
    • ALL REAL ESTATE
    • WELCOME
    • EXPLORE
      • LISTINGS
        • PLACES
        • EVENTS
        • JOBS
        • REAL ESTATE
      • ADD YOUR LISTING
      • RECREATION
      • GARDINER HISTORY
    • LIVE/WORK
      • CITY GUIDE
      • RESOURCES
        • FOR RESIDENTS
        • FOR BUSINESSES
      • HEART OF GARDINER
      • FOUNTAIN FUNDRAISER
      • REAL ESTATE
      • JOBS
    • EVENTS
      • COMMUNITY EVENTS
      • ANNUAL EVENTS
        • SWINE & STEIN BREWFEST
        • DAY OF CARING
      • ADD YOUR EVENT(S)
    • ABOUT US
      • MISSION
      • TEAMS
        • PROMOTIONS
        • STREETSCAPE
        • ECONOMIC VITALITY
        • ORGANIZATION
      • PROGRAMS
        • GARDINER GREETERS
        • GIFT OF GARDINER
        • FACADE LOAN PROGRAM
        • MAIN STREET MAINE
      • STAFF & BOARD
      • VOLUNTEER
      • MILESTONES
    • NEWS!
      • ALL POSTS
      • THINK GARDINER FIRST
      • GARDINER IN THE NEWS
    • CONTACT
    • GIVE!
    • VOLUNTEER!
    Sign in

    Gardiner Common

    One of Maine's Oldest Town Squares!

    • Get directions
    • Profile
    • Events
    • Jobs
    • prev
    • next
    • Get directions
    • Bookmark
    • Share
    • prev
    • next
    Description

    Just up the hill from downtown Gardiner, the Common is a beautiful spot to relax or have fun.

    Features: Playground, Bandstand, Walking Paths, Fountain, Memorials, Benches

    Originally known as Brunswick Square, this common is one of Maine’s earliest designed landscapes. Robert Gardiner, who donated the property in 1824, sought to provide a public walk and parade ground while increasing the property value of his land around the park. He also wanted to improve the appearance of the town founded by his grandfather, requiring in his will that the town maintain existing rows of trees, separate walkways from roads with an ornamental fence, and add no permanent buildings. Should the town not abide by these stipulations, the three-acre site would revert to Gardiner’s heirs.

    Early improvements included footpaths that cross the common and a fence made of granite bollards with wooden cross rails, which remains intact today. A Shingle-style bandstand built in the 1920s was replaced in the mid-1970s. Numerous memorials have also been added, including a Civil War memorial from 1875, the 20-foot-diameter Palmer fountain, the Stimson drinking fountain, a memorial to poet Edwin Arlington Robinson, and a war memorial honoring those lost between the Spanish-American and Vietnam wars. During World War II, the town donated the Palmer fountain’s Neptune statue and the Civil War monument’s iron fence and cannons as scrap metal; the fountain sculpture was later replaced with a contemporary design in the 1970s, the Lady and The Birds.

    Today the common is bordered by churches, Greek Revival-style homes, a school, and a small commercial business. It is heavily used with a contemporary children’s playground, a perimeter walking path, and open space for public events.

    Help Save The Lady And The Birds Fountain!

    A fundraising campaign is underway to help repair this commemorative public art is named for Gideon S. Palmer, Civil War regimental surgeon and later, Director of Freedmen’s Hospital. Our fountain is more than 100 years old and needs extensive repairs to the concrete, the plumbing and electrical. Support our community fountain with a donation today.

    Gallery
    Gardiner commons lady-and-birds-with-gazebo
    Location
    • Gardiner Common, Gardiner, Maine 04345, United States

      Get Directions
    Categories
    • ALL PLACES
    • Downtown History
    • For Kids
    • Parks & Trails
    • Outdoor Activities
    Region
    • Larger City of Gardiner

    You May Also Be Interested In

    Gardiner Regional Middle School StoryWalk Trail

    Free and a fun family activity!
    • 207-588-5341
    • 161 Cobbossee Avenue
    • ALL PLACES
    • +3

    MIKA Gardiner After School & Summer Camp

    Mika is an activity-based after school and summer camp program focused on wellness & respect. The…
    • 207-582-6365
    • 26 Winter Street
    OPEN
    • For Kids
    • +1

    Sinsemilla

    Sinsemilla is a registered adult use cannabis store in Gardiner, Maine. They offer a variety of strains,…
    • 207-588-7816
    • 35 Bridge Street
    CLOSED
    • ALL PLACES
    GMS Logo Horizontal
    192 Water Street Unit 3 (2nd Floor)
    PO Box 194
    Gardiner, ME 04345

    207-582-3100
    info@gardinermainstreet.org

    Gardiner events & updates in your inbox:


    LATEST NEWS!

    • Organizers launch final fundraising push for Gardiner fountain
      Posted in Gardiner In The News
    • Celebrate Maine Craft Weekend in Gardiner
      Posted in Gardiner Main Street News
    • Water Street Temporarily Closed to Vehicles
      Posted in News from the City

    A CERTIFIED MAIN STREET

    © Gardiner Main Street - 2022 All Rights Reserved

    BC Creative Digital Agency

    Cart

      • Featured
      • ALL EVENTS
      • ALL PLACES
      • ALL REAL ESTATE
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • WhatsApp
      • Telegram
      • LinkedIn
      • Tumblr
      • VKontakte
      • Mail
      • Copy link