The city of Portland has partnered with The Trust for Public Land and nonprofit Portland Trails. Main aim of the partnership will be to conduct a study, in parts that will reveal which city owned properties should be kept as public spaces and which properties should be considered for development.

The assessment's main aim is to take the list of Portland's parks, gardens, trails and other open spaces and come up with a 'holistic vision' for the network of public places.

After assessing the properties, recommendations will be given in the study as which publicly owned spaces need more investment and how they can be made better and which would be better suited for commercial development.

City Manager Mark Rees said that the open spaces assessment will definitely help in improving parks and open spaces in Portland. The study would not be complete without public input. The study will help in taking decisions, "which spaces may need more recreational facilities, trails, space to grow food, public art, additional protections and which are better suited to develop, how to improve park quality and access, and an assessment of resource needs".

The Trust for Public Land will help in coming up with ways to generate funds for the open spaces. Wolfe Tone, Maine state director for The Trust for Public Land, said it is great that they are chosen to provide technical suggestions.

In addition to the city's parks, trails and gardens, there are many open space assets. These spaces are highly valued by dedicated local stakeholders and stewards. Tone said they are honored to represent those stakeholders and open space lovers in the city to build a collective open space vision for Portland.