A new outdoor recreation area comparable in size to Bradbury State Park is being developed a short drive away. It will greatly expand outdoor opportunities for Gorham and neighboring towns. The East Windham Conservation Project has recently grown to 750 acres. With a $3.7 M budget, it is an ambitious venture between Presumpscot Regional Land Trust (of which Gorham is a founding member) and the Town of Windham’s Open Space Plan. Windham is also a Land Trust member.
Like Bradbury State Park, this project will forever preserve a large tract of land and also protect a variety of natural habitats for plants and animals. It will offer more than 10 miles of multi-use recreation trails with several scenic vistas overlooking the White Mountains as well as along quiet Little Duck Pond. Another important feature will be a one-mile, universal access trail so that people of all abilities can exercise and enjoy the outdoors.
The project stretches through Windham and connects to 20 more miles of existing trails on conserved land in Falmouth. It will also help to protect the water quality of the surrounding streams and lakes of the Presumpscot River watershed.
All but $400,000 of the $3.7 M in needed funding has been raised: $1M from the Land for Maine’s Future state grant; $1.8 M from the Town of Windham conservation bond; and $500,000 from a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant is pending.
The Presumpscot Regional Land Trust is leading a fundraising effort to raise $400,000 this summer to pay for conservation easement, trail building, recreational amenities, and long-term stewardship of the land, in order for the project to become a reality.
Gorham Savings Bank has generously stepped up in support by offering a $50,000 matching challenge to help the Land Trust achieve its fundraising goal. Every gift made by individuals and families to the Land Trust for this project will be matched this summer until the matching challenge has been met, according to Steve deCastro, Gorham Savings Bank, President & CEO.
Rachelle Curran Apse, Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, Executive Director, said, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a conservation and outdoor recreation project the size of Bradbury State Park, just minutes from Gorham. We are now looking to individuals and families throughout the region to support this project in order to conserve the land this Fall.”
The Presumpscot Regional Land Trust has 18 public access preserves and 2,170 acres of conserved lands with miles of public access trails and water access. They also coordinate the 28-mile Sebago to the Sea Trail from Standish to Portland. To learn more and support the East Windham Conservation Project go to: www.prlt.org/east-windham-project.