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East Windham Conservation Area
What's New
- With funding support from the Land for Maine's Future Program, the Town has completed acquisition of the land and executed a conservation easement with the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust to permanently protect 700 acres in East Windham!
- The East Windham Conservation Area will open to the public with a Grand Opening Event scheduled for Saturday, December 2nd. This fall, the land will remain temporarily closed to the public while the construction of the parking lot and trails is underway. Please RSVP for the grand opening at https://www.prlt.org/events.
Final Draft Concept Plan
The project will have multiple phases, the first phase to be open to the public in December 2023 will include a year-round parking area and 5-miles of trails to 3 viewpoint destinations. The second phase to be completed in one year will include the remaining five miles of trails, including a 1-mile universal access trail. The third phase of this project is envisioned to include an observation tower on the top of Atherton Hill (where the former fire tower stood in the 1900s) and the second mile of a universal access trail that will lead to the observation tower. The third phase of this project is planned to be completed in five years.
Background Information
The Town of Windham, in partnership with the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, proposes to conserve 700+ acres of land in East Windham, off Falmouth Road. The forested land has approximately 1,545 feet of water frontage on Little Duck Pond and directly abuts over 1,000 acres of other conserved land in Windham and Falmouth. This acquisition would conserve a large unfragmented habitat block in Greater Portland and protect water quality of threatened waterbodies. An access road improved to be accessible for all, parking areas and trails for outdoor education and recreation will connect to abutting conserved land. Uses will include hiking, mountain biking, fishing, horseback riding, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, ATV riding, and hunting. A sweeping overlook and an observation tower on the top of Atherton Hill (where the former fire tower stood in the 1900s) will provide scenic view to the White Mountains.
Scenic Viewpoint at Little Duck Pond:
Scenic Viewpoint looking West on Woods Road (photo credit Ted Anderson):
Atherton Hill 60' Fire Tower, installed 1946, removed 2000 (photo 1991):