Presumpscot Regional Land Trust (PRLT) celebrated an extraordinary year in conservation last month during its annual meeting at Randall Orchards in Standish.
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| At its annual meeting at Randall Orchards in Standish, members and supporters of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust celebrated accomplishments achieved by the organization in 2024. PHOTO BY ABBY WILSON |
One major highlight is the opening of the East Windham Conservation Area, which is 700 acres, roughly the size of Bradbury State Park and features eight miles of multi-use trails.
Will Sedlack, PRLT Executive Director, said that the opening of this property is a major milestone for our community.
“This was more than just a ribbon cutting,” Sedlack said. “It was the culmination of years of hard work and collaboration, demonstrating what’s possible when municipalities and land trusts work together for the benefit of communities.”
Toby Jacobs, PRLT Program Manager, reviewed trail projects and stewardship of conserved lands saying that with the East Windham Conservation Area work finishing up, the organization’s focus has shifted.
The Rivermeadow Preserve, adjacent to downtown Westbrook, has a trailhead at the Cornelia Warren four season rink on Lincoln Street. Trail construction is underway for a 1.5 mile accessible trail and boardwalk there.
“The first 300 feet of that trail are going to be boardwalk to a viewpoint and that will be a fully ADA accessible trail” says Jacobs.
Deer Woods Preserve in Gorham is another new trail project for PRLT. It is located a mile southeast of downtown Gorham on Day Road. Originally owned and donated to the trust by Kathleen Ashely, the property will feature a short half-mile loop trail.
By the spring, Jacobs said that both of these trail projects will be completed, and grand opening events will be scheduled.
Brenna Crothers, PRLT Community Engagement Manager, reported on the outreach efforts of the organization.
Several programs focused on youth education including story times and vernal pool exploration.
In partnership with Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the land trust created an alewife migration guide.
“The hope for the future is that we will be able to bring that into some of the local schools and get some more field trips out on the trails,” Crothers said.
PRLT’s Summer Trail Challenge numbers reflected an increase in participants. Nearly 250 people completed this year’s Summer Trail Challenge, an increase from the initiative’s first year. In total there were 71 registered families with children, ranging from one to five kids who participated. The ages ranged from infants to 15 years old.
Most of the participants of the Trail Challenge were from Windham, with many others from Portland, Westbrook, and Gorham. Some traveled from as far away as Lewiston, Naples, or Newcastle to participate, Crothers said.
Land trust staff also discussed the organization’s future goals during the meeting.
A Story Walk at Rivermeadow Preserve in Westbrook in partnership with Walker Memorial Library is a future educational project.
“We are hoping to provide some story walks with books in multiple languages which will be a new resource that we have never done before,” said Crothers.
Sedlack spoke of the land trust’s intentions to focus on accessibility. Rivermeadow and Mill Brook Preserve, in particular, were mentioned.
“Our focus on making sure Rivermeadow is accessible ties into one of my guiding principles as Executive Director. Accessible design is good design, that supports us in every stage of our life, ensuring that we can all enjoy nature” said Sedlack.
Migratory fish species will also be a future focus.
“We decided we needed to do more with the alewives. More people needed to know about how incredible it is, how unique it is, how this is a story of reemergence” Sedlack said.
Frame Media is in the process of producing a film about alewives. Currently a trailer can be viewed on the PRLT YouTube page. Stay tuned for the finished product.
With so much going on and many opportunities for conservation, PRLT has asked the community to participate in this ongoing strategic planning process.
At the meeting, an activity was completed where attendees were asked to identify which issues were most important to them. Topics included preserving environmentally and recreationally valuable lands, effective stewardship of land, sustainable impact expansion, and welcoming and responsive community engagement.
This activity and a community survey which ended on Oct. 14, will provide insight for the land trust’s future and its priorities.
“We need your guidance on where to invest,” says Sedlack.
PRLT welcomes the community to be engaged, explore the trails, attend an educational program, volunteer, or donate to make an impact today.
To learn more about Presumpscot Regional Land Trust visit www.prlt.org. <
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