Windham combines conservation areas to create Windham Community Forest
Windham to Unveil New “Windham Community Forest” on Oct. 17
Windham, ME — On Saturday, October 17, the town of Windham will officially rename and open its newly combined woodland area, the Windham Community Forest. The event, set for 9 a.m. at the Atherton Trailhead, will mark the completion of a year‑long effort to merge the Lowell Preserve and the East Windham Conservation Area into one unified public space.
The two preserves, which first opened in 2021 and 2023, have long been managed jointly by the town and the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust. While Windham owns the land, the trust holds a conservation easement that protects its natural resources. Together, the properties total 1,104 acres of hardwood forest and form part of a larger 2,000‑acre scenic corridor that also includes the North Falmouth Community Forest.
A Community‑Driven Naming Process
In January, a steering committee of 11 members, chaired by Parks and Recreation Director Linda Brooks and the trust’s executive director Will Sedlack, was established to oversee the unification. “We gathered input from residents at a community forum and narrowed down a list of potential names,” Brooks said. “From those, we selected two finalists through an online FlashVote, and the town council approved the final name—Windham Community Forest—on September 8.”
Emily Southard, director of development and marketing for the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, emphasized that merging the two areas was a logical step. “The trail systems are already interconnected, and many bikers enter through one preserve and spend a significant amount of time in the other,” she said. “Combining them under one name streamlines management and enhances the visitor experience.”
New Trail and Renamed Entrances
A highlight of the ceremony will be the ribbon‑cutting for the Universal Access Trail, a new one‑mile path that runs from the parking lot of the former East Windham Conservation Area to a scenic overlook of the White Mountains. If weather allows, a guided walk will follow the cut.
In addition to the renaming of the forest itself, the entrances of the former preserves will receive new signage: the former East Windham Conservation Area entrance will become the Atherton Hill Trailhead, while the former Lowell Preserve entrance will be renamed the Lowell Farm Trailhead.
Future Collaboration and Public Input
The town and the trust plan to keep the community involved as they move forward. “We’ll have a public feedback station at the land trust’s annual meeting on Sunday, Oct. 18,” Southard said. “And on November 5, we’ll host a joint open house at Windham Town Hall to discuss land conservation plans with property owners and the public.”
Ceremony Details
Speakers from both the town and the land trust will address attendees, covering the history of the preserves, the process of unification, and the vision for the forest’s future. The ribbon‑cutting event is expected to be a low‑key celebration, but one that signals a new era of stewardship for Windham’s natural resources.
The naming and ribbon‑cutting ceremony for the Windham Community Forest is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, at 9 a.m. at the Atherton Trailhead, with a welcome from local leaders and a guided walk along the new Universal Access Trail.
