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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):
Project Schedule
January 2022
- Steering Committee Meeting - January 27 5pm Zoom (Agenda)
February
- Community Meeting (hybrid) - Wednesday FEBRUARY 16 6:30PM at Council Chambers & ZOOM (Presentation Slides)
March
April
- Apply for Land for Land for Maine’s Future State Grant Program for matching funds to conserve the land (4/1)
- Steering Committee Meeting - April 6 6pm Zoom (Agenda)
- Town-wide Survey - April 22-May 6 - View Survey Results (Thanks to the 900 people that responded to our survey!)
- Site Walk opportunities - Thursday April 28 3:30pm and Sunday May 1 12:00pm
- Virtual Map Tour
May
- Steering Committee Meeting - May 18 6pm Zoom (Agenda)
- LMF Awards 5/26 - View Governor Mills' press release of selected projects
- Community Meeting (hybrid) - Tuesday May 31 6:30pm at Council Chambers & ZOOM (Meeting Recording, Presentation Slides, Concept Plans)
June
- Town Meeting June 18 - Voters approved the bond (paid for with open space impact fees) to match state grant funds
July
- Apply for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to help fund building out the recreational opportunities (7/1)
Summer 2022
- Presumpscot Regional Land Trust will lead private funding. Click here to learn more and support the project.
November
- Site Walk opportunity - Sunday November 20 12:00pm. Missed the site walks? Take a Virtual Map Tour of the property.
2023
- Project approved for federal LWCF funding
- Close on properties
- Finalize management plan
- Construct trailhead parking area, trails and scenic viewing areas
December 2023
- Saturday December 2 1:00pm Grand opening of the project. Please register at https://www.prlt.org/events.
2024
- Expansion of recreational amenities including construction of additional trails, including 1-mile universal access trail.
TBD
- Fundraising for installation of Atherton Hill observation tower and construction of second mile of universal access trail.