PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 11, 2025
The South Portland City Council’s recent decision to install a designated handicapped parking space at the end of Deake Street — intended to provide a lookout for individuals with limited mobility — feels more ironic than inclusive, given the city’s ongoing neglect of the public access point and infrastructure at Willard Beach itself. Meanwhile, Willard Beach is facing far more pressing and widespread issues that directly affect community safety and accessibility. Hazardous conditions — broken stairs, a playground in visible disrepair and crumbling infrastructure — have been documented and repeatedly brought to the city’s attention. Yet these dangers remain unaddressed. ~ Lauren Shapiro, South Portland