Though Maine summers are not very long, Windham strives to make them as enjoyable as possible. With a new pavilion addition to the Windham Community Park, next to the Community Gardens, the park is now more accessible and gather–friendly.
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| To celebrate the completion of its newly constructed pavilion by volunteers, Windham Parks and Recreation will hold an open house from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6 at Windham Community park. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
“We have been adding picnic pavilions to our various park locations in the past few years, and we always intended to add one or two at the Community Park as we continued to add other elements to the park,” says Linda Brooks, Windham Director of Parks and Recreation. “Following a survey administered by the Age Friendly Windham Committee in October of 2019, an action plan was developed that included a goal to increase access to outdoor spaces by providing accessible amenities at our parks. It made sense to design the Community Park pavilion with this goal in mind.”
The process to make the pavilion a reality started in the Spring of 2022 with a group of volunteers from the local community organization PowerServe, who did the preliminary site work and preparation for the pavilion's foundation.
“In June 2022, our project was one of the sites chosen by the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing, with volunteers biking across the country volunteering to assist in projects around the community that benefit senior citizens and veterans,” said Brooks.
Over the course of the summer, volunteers from the local chapter worked to complete the pavilion.
“In May 2023, we were awarded a $10,000 Community Challenge grant from AARP to be used toward the purchase and installation of accessible pathways to the pavilion and three ADA compliant picnic benches, and this final part of the process was completed by employees of the Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments,” Brooks said.
Many people enjoy the shade and shelter provided by the pavilion and during a visit to the park, some may wish to bring along snacks or a picnic lunch to enjoy while using the park. Brooks said that in keeping the goal from the Age Friendly Action Plan, they also felt that older residents may enjoy being spectators to the volleyball, basketball, pickleball or skateboarding activities that take place at the park.
“It made sense to design the Community Park pavilion with this goal in mind, and when we were approached by the family of David and Joan Tobin about making a generous donation toward this picnic pavilion, it really helped launch the project,” Brooks said.
The open house event is designed to show what has been done with the newly finished pavilion.
“While the pavilion is always open and available for people dropping into the park, as is the case with all of our pavilions at our other facilities, such as the in Donnabeth Lippman and Dundee Parks, the pavilions are a great place to host family gatherings and can be reserved for a fee,” said Brooks. “Many community members appreciate this ability to confirm that the space will be available for this purpose.”
She said Brooks and the whole team would like to thank and acknowledge the role of PowerServe, Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing, Age Friendly Windham, AARP, Windham Public Works and Windham Parks staff for helping make the pavilion project at the Windham Community Park happen. <
Over the course of the summer, volunteers from the local chapter worked to complete the pavilion.
“In May 2023, we were awarded a $10,000 Community Challenge grant from AARP to be used toward the purchase and installation of accessible pathways to the pavilion and three ADA compliant picnic benches, and this final part of the process was completed by employees of the Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments,” Brooks said.
Many people enjoy the shade and shelter provided by the pavilion and during a visit to the park, some may wish to bring along snacks or a picnic lunch to enjoy while using the park. Brooks said that in keeping the goal from the Age Friendly Action Plan, they also felt that older residents may enjoy being spectators to the volleyball, basketball, pickleball or skateboarding activities that take place at the park.
“It made sense to design the Community Park pavilion with this goal in mind, and when we were approached by the family of David and Joan Tobin about making a generous donation toward this picnic pavilion, it really helped launch the project,” Brooks said.
The open house event is designed to show what has been done with the newly finished pavilion.
“While the pavilion is always open and available for people dropping into the park, as is the case with all of our pavilions at our other facilities, such as the in Donnabeth Lippman and Dundee Parks, the pavilions are a great place to host family gatherings and can be reserved for a fee,” said Brooks. “Many community members appreciate this ability to confirm that the space will be available for this purpose.”
She said Brooks and the whole team would like to thank and acknowledge the role of PowerServe, Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing, Age Friendly Windham, AARP, Windham Public Works and Windham Parks staff for helping make the pavilion project at the Windham Community Park happen. <
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