Windham earns near $1 million grant for conservation project

A conceptual drawing shows the proposed East Windham
Conservation Project, a partnership between the Town of
Windham and the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
which if approved by voters at the Annual Windham
Town Meeting on June 18 would conserve 661 acres of
land and undeveloped water frontage on Little Duck Pond.
COURTESY IMAGE  

By Ed Pierce

The purchase and conservation of 661 acres of land amounting to the largest block of unfragmented forest in Windham, and one of the largest in the Greater Portland area, is one step closer to becoming a reality after the Lands for Maine’s Future Program awarded the East Windham Conservation project $998,000.

If a plan is approved by voters at Windham’s Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, June 18, a partnership between the town and the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust would dramatically expand and diversify recreational opportunities in Windham with the purchase and conservation of 661 acres of forested land and 1,545 feet of undeveloped water frontage on Little Duck Pond. The land also contains the 150-acre Deer Wintering Area, a traditional area for hunting by permission, and the 580-foot Atherton Hill, the tallest hill in Windham.When completed, the project will directly abut more than 1,000 acres of other conserved land in Windham and Falmouth, including Lowell Preserve, North Falmouth Community Forest, and Blackstrap Hill Preserve, providing 20 miles of interconnected trails and five trailheads for public access.

Amanda Lessard, Town of Windham Planning Director said that in the Open Space Plan, Windham identified this area of East Windham as important to conserve for its large undeveloped habitat blocks, preservation of rural character, and water quality protection.

“I’m pleased that the State of Maine also recognizes the significance of the East Windham Conservation Project with its selection for Lands for Maine’s Future funding,” Lessard said.

Town residents will be asked to approve a bond at the Annual Town Meeting to match the state grant funds.

“The bond will be paid for with open space impact fees so there will be no impact on the mill rate. Not only does the acquisition of this property preserve a part of Windham that residents have identified as an important area to conserve amidst increasing development pressures, it also provides exceptional scenic views of the western mountains, and the opportunity to recreate close to home,” Lessard said.

Lessard said that Windham has been collaborating with the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust over the past six months to engage the community on developing a vision for this property.

“With guidance from the steering committee, we held two community meetings, site walks of the property, and put out a town-wide survey that had 900 responses,” she said. “The top-ranked community benefit identified by the survey was to conserve the land to remain undeveloped for wildlife habitat, water quality protection and rural character. The second-highest ranked community benefit was to provide multiple-use outdoor recreation and create access for the whole community. Finally, the top four highest-ranked activities that will bring respondents to this land once it is conserved are walking, hiking, visiting an observation tower with 360-degree views and experience scenic views of the White Mountains.”

The survey results were used to inform a concept plan that was presented at the Community Meeting on May 31, according to Lessard. The plan envisions a year-round trail head parking area, multi-use trails, access to fishing, hunting and wildlife observation area, a universal access trail connecting from Falmouth Road to Little Duck Pond and Atherton Hill, an observation tower that will provide scenic views to Casco Bay and Mount Washington, and destinations with scenic views of the western mountains and the pond.

“There was overwhelming support from those at the community meeting that the concept plan accurately represented the community vision for the property,” Lessard said.

Windham Town Manager Barry Tibbetts said the town is grateful to the Lands for Maine’s Future organization for helping to fund this project.

“The timing of this land being available to be conserved for the future with recreational usage combined with the state’s renewed commitment to funding with the Land for Maine’s Future program has been ideal,” Tibbetts said. “The LMF Board’s award to grant the town nearly $1 million for the acquisition of this property is an opportunity we can’t afford to pass up.”

Rachelle Curran Apse, Executive Director of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust said that the East Windham Conservation Project is on the scale of Bradbury State Park, both in size and importance to both Windham and the region.

“This project will create the largest conservation and recreation corridor in the region with 30 miles of multi-use trails, which is larger than any state park in Southern Maine. We are so glad to be partnering with the town of Windham to make this exceptional opportunity to ensure outdoor recreation for generations to come,” she said. “This $3.5 million project will only be possible with local bond support, state and federal grants, and private funding. The Land Trust is leading the private fundraising effort over the summer to raise the remaining funds needed in order to conserve the land this fall. Support of all sizes will be needed from hundreds of families to make this project a reality.”

To learn more and support this project go to: https://www.prlt.org/east-windham-project. <