Willard Beach is a valued community open space and coastal resource in South Portland, Maine. The beach faces a complex set of issues related to water quality, natural resource management, aging infrastructure, high levels of public use, accessibility, and the threat of sea level rise.  In 2023, as Director of Landscape Architecture at Viewshed, Jessica led a planning process in response to these issues in collaboration with environmental scientists at FB Environmental and engineers at Sevee & Maher Engineers. This plan now serves as a roadmap for funding, management, and physical improvements to Willard Beach and the surrounding neighborhood. 

The work included a comprehensive assessment of existing conditions, including an analysis of shoreline stabilization, dune health and ongoing restoration efforts, watershed drainage and pollutant runoff, critical habitats, neighborhood way-finding, parking, and beach access points.  The planning was also guided by a community engagement process that included a series of well attended committee meetings and a digital outreach platform that received hundreds of responses.

The master plan outlines a vision for Willard Beach that is grounded in natural resource protection, coastal resiliency, and inclusivity as a public park. The plan features a series of improvement and management recommendations for the neighborhood and beach. Conceptual site plans offer guidance for potential interventions at major access points. On-site pilot projects were implemented in collaboration with the Maine Geological Survey during the planning process to test the effectiveness of dune restoration techniques.