A park.

That’s what should take the place of our beastly building of burden, also known as the Keddy Mill in South Windham.

With the Keddy Mill in disrepair and South Windham in disrepute because of this ugly centerpiece, a beautiful park is the ideal replacement for the Keddy Mill complex now owned by Hudson Realty Capital, which recently notified the town that it can’t afford to build 85 proposed condominiums.

Keddy Park, if it came to be, would be a real draw.

The park would have the elderly and the young as its main users. South Windham has lots of kids who want to play in something other than an old mill yard, and dozens of older folks live just next door to the old Keddy Mill complex, in Little Falls Landing, the housing development built and run by Avesta Housing. (Imagine spending your golden years having to look at the Keddy Mill every day.)

Keddy Park would be a mostly flat piece of ground with open grassy areas and bordered by the beautiful Presumpscot River, which sports a dynamic waterfall that twists its way around the mill property. You wouldn’t know it by driving by, but the waterfall is quite high and beautiful. Take away the mill, put a nice walking path along the river’s edge, and strolls in such a park would be quite inviting indeed.

Once the River’s Edge Walking Path was created, you’d need some benches on which people could sit and enjoy the view. (I bet folks from Little Falls Landing would love those benches.) They could stop and then continue walking downstream as far as the property borders the river. This would rival Westbrook’s Riverbank Park, and the falls would provide much more excitement and spectacle.

While the older folks would enjoy the walking paths, the kids would get something they’d think was even more wonderful: an expansive playground complete with turrets, slides, towers, swings, climbing walls and monkey bars. No expense would be spared building the playground. It would surpass any playground in the area, which come to think of it, wouldn’t be very hard to do. The structure would be built of natural materials so it would meld with its surroundings. And underfoot, newfangled rubber chips would cushion inevitable falls.

There would be no basketball courts. No tennis courts. No BMX racing tracks. No soccer fields with goals strewn about. We already have those at the schools. Keddy Park would be built with nature in mind.

Young mothers would love this place, too. I remember my mom taking me to a fancy playground similar to the one I’m trying to describe. I was in heaven. And she took time out to read, relax and socialize with the other mothers.

Concerned about safety? The fire department is across the road. Pollution concerns? Building structures will cost a lot, as the developer has figured out, but covering everything up with a few feet of dirt will work just fine. Too costly? Compared to anything else, creating fields, shoring up the river’s edge (which would have to be done no matter what) and installing a superb playground is cheap.

So, with the developer saying it can’t afford to move ahead with the condo project and requesting input from townspeople, it seems we have a real chance to get rid of the wreckage known as the Keddy Mill and replace it with open, green space that’s good for the soul.

Now’s the time to do something great with that property, something better than building condos. Fill in the dangerous holes underneath the mill, build some walking paths, and create some beauty. And while you’re at it, erect a whizbang playground that’ll draw parents and their kids from all over. Heck, it may even be good for South Windham’s economy.

And this location is much better than the park proposed recently near the Windham police station on Route 202. Keddy Park would be more natural, with fewer frills. The way a park should be.

John Balentine, of Windham, is a former editor of the Lakes Region Weekly.