Discussions are underway concerning a proposal to create a community park in Windham. Centered around the skate park on Gray Road next to the public safety building on Route 202, the community park would feature a picnic area, playground, basketball court, BMX bicycle track, community garden and walking path encircling the park.

At Tuesday’s Town Council workshop, Parks and Rec director Brian Ross unveiled a perspective map of the property and how the community park might be laid out on the 12.8 acres of land available at the site.

“Since we have a piece of property with this potential, it’s important to look at the whole property and what we can do with it,” said Parks and Rec director Brian Ross.

About 30 kids a day bike or skate on ramps at the current skate park, located on the property with a snack bar. The idea for the community park arose, Ross said, from demand for a BMX bicycle course next to the skate park. And so, Ross began looking into ways to expanding the skate park into a community park that would include the bicycle course and other attractions that could be used by residents of all ages.

“I love the idea,” Councilor Michael Shaugnessy said during the workshop. “It does give a center to the town and I like the idea that it could be multigenerational.”

Other ideas tossed around the workshop table were the possiblity of holding a “farmer’s market” at the park and turning the proposed basketball court into an ice rink during the winter.

Councilor David Tobin also spoke out in favor saying that, ever since he’s lived in Windham, there has never been a community park.

“We’re rapidly becoming pretty well populated,” Tobin said. “And we don’t have anything like this in town.”

Councilor Elizabeth Wisecup however came out strongly opposed to the idea. Wisecup argued that the acreage should be kept available for future placement of municipal buildings and stated that town money would be better spent elsewhere.

“I don’t envision that area for a park,” Wisecup said. “I think we’ve got a lot of other things to do with town money than spend it on this park.”

Town money may not be needed to build the park, Ross said. $80,000 in development impact fees – fees developers pay in order to build in Windham – are available and, if these fees are not used within five years, they must be repaid to the developer.

If the plan were approved, Ross plans to approach local businesses to see if any are interested in sponsoring the project. Carol Waig noted that local Boy Scout troops might be willing to help out. The Boy Scouts have done previous community work, like building stairs at the Gambo Soccer Fields this year, Waig said.

Councilor Wisecup questioned whether neighbors to the property would be in favor of the community park.

“None of this is in our own backyard,” Wisecup said. “That is a quiet area. Noise travels quickly and I wonder what the neighbors would think (of the park idea).”

The council plans to hold a hearing on the proposed community park to gauge public interest in the park. Ross will be sending letters out to neighboring residents to inform them of the proposal.

This is an aerial map of the property around the Windham Skate Park on Gray Road that may be expanded into a new community park for Windham.