The Open Space and Trails Steering Committee wants your opinion between now and April 2025. Think of an open space in Gorham—one that you’ve known since childhood, or perhaps an unbuilt area or one that you’ve just found on a hike or family picnic—and ask yourself how you can be sure it will be preserved for decades ahead. Now think about responding to a quick survey put together by the Town of Gorham Planning Office.
To understand the goal of this survey, which can be found online at the Planning Office, at the Baxter Memorial Library, at the North Gorham Public Library and at the Little Falls Activity Center, ask yourself a few questions.
Am I familiar enough with the open space and trails in Gorham?
Do I want to keep the rural character of this place and of the community of Gorham?
Is water resource protection important?
Do I value the connection between recreational areas and important wildlife habitats?
What about scenic views and vistas?
Is there importance in conserving the land I enjoy while still supporting economic development?
Have I, personally, thought about the resources and tools, like the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust or the Maine Farmland Trust, that I might need to help me preserve all or some of my own land?
Have I thought about the climate resiliency of my favorite open space?
And did I know that Gorham had an active Snowmobile Club?
And more to the point, what exactly is open space? The Town Planner, Carol Eyerman, an expert with many years of experience on the subject, would offer that a field, a farm, a playground, a trail network, a habitat, a park, a forest, a waterfront, a wetland, a community garden and a place to hunt are all correct answers. The survey Eyerman and her office have developed suggests that there are many other open spaces to add to this list, and because of that, she would like to see what you think between now and April. This is a great opportunity to have your voice heard, the Town Planner says, assuming you will take a few minutes to work with her. Eyerman’s style and commitment are the driving force for this project. “I respect the town ordinances—structure is important. It’s what guides the work we do.”
And she’d like to know even more: the survey focuses on what might prevent you or others in your household from using Gorham trails. Is it proximity of the trails to your home? Safety concerns? ADA accessibility? Parking problems? Is it that the location of the trails isn’t familiar to your group, or that your family isn’t sure of what trails are available? Some of the quick answers can be found on three newly designed maps exhibited at the sites noted above. The maps, in colorful poster format, detail open space, trails, sidewalks and future farming attractions. Other questions will be answered by the Planning Board as the surveys are read, evaluated and shared. Planners like Eyerman cite this participation by an informed public as the key ingredient in what makes a thriving town stay that way.
Visit the website at www.gorhamopenspace.me, or scan this QR code:
