During December, two different public surveys will gauge public opinion in Windham about topics affecting the community’s planning for the future.
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| Two different community surveys in Windham will poll residents for their opinions about transportation in the town and how climate- related impacts affect infrastructure, public safety and the town's natural resources. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE |
Community feedback will help shape the future of walking and biking infrastructure in the town, including planning for new sidewalks and bike lanes for people traveling on foot or on wheels. Meeting and survey input will guide improvements to existing sidewalks and roads, help identify new opportunities, and make walking and biking in Windham easier and safer.
An online public survey will be available at the end of this week on the town website and will augment the public meeting and was created with funding support from the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS), which is the metropolitan planning organization for the Greater Portland region. The Town of Windham is working with the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) and Sebago Technics to develop a plan to evaluate, analyze and make improvements to the Town’s active transportation infrastructure such as sidewalks, bikeways, and multi-use trails.
The meeting and survey will result in the development of a town-wide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan going forward. The transportation survey ends Dec. 24.
Mary Wicklund, Town of Windham Environmental and Sustainability Coordinator, says that the town is also working closely with the Greater Portland Council of Governments on a climate impact survey, with GPCOG taking the lead on the survey and analyzing the results.
“In the State of Maine, much of the vulnerability and impacts resulting from the changing climate impacts has focused on the coastal regions,” Wicklund said. “This project, a collaboration between GPCOG and five municipalities, aims to better understand the climate risks for inland communities. For example, extreme heat and impacts from larger storms (resulting in road washouts and reduced water quality), impact residents across the state.
Wicklund said working with GPCOG will support the town in identifying and prioritizing the next steps to address current needs to enhance our infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and overall community wellbeing.
According to Emma Morgan, Sustainability Program Associate for the Greater Portland Council of Governments climate impact is a key issue in future planning for Windham.
“Climate-related impacts, such as more frequent and intense storms, increased flooding, heat waves, and shifting seasonal weather patterns, are becoming more noticeable each year in the region,” she said. “In Windham, these changes are affecting road conditions, public safety, household energy costs, and the town’s natural resources. Understanding how these changes are affecting the community and its resources is essential to preparing for risks, protecting property and infrastructure, and supporting vulnerable residents.”
Morgan said the climate impact survey is designed to engage with the community and gather first-hand information on how community members are experiencing climate-related changes.
“We hope to learn which impacts people are most concerned about, where residents may already be seeing impacts such as flooding, erosion, heat-related challenges, or storm damage, and how prepared households feel today and what barriers exist to improving resilience,” Morgan said.
She said the survey results will help to inform the town’s climate adaptation and resilience planning.
“They will help to identify priority areas for investment, guide decision making, and shape preparedness strategies,” Morgan said. “The data collected will also highlight where additional outreach or support may be needed. Ultimately, the feedback from the community will help ensure that future planning efforts reflect community needs and that town resources are utilized to make the greatest impact.”
The survey will remain open through Dec. 31.
“Once it closes, we will compile and analyze all responses, and the findings will be shared publicly in the final Vulnerability Assessment Report,” Morgan said. “This report, developed through the Community Resilience Partnership Service Provider Grant, will be published no later than July 2026.”
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