Nearly 20,000 people a year visit Dundee Park in Windham, the only waterfront park in this town of over 17,000. And to think it was built by the townspeople themselves!

Throughout the history of the town, there had been a continuous shrinking of the amount of shore frontage available for public use. Due to the high cost of this type of property and the town’s limited financial resources, it was never possible to purchase such land as was available.

By 1965 the lack of recreational property for public use had become a real issue with residents, as the town continued to grow. The Windham Planning Board decided to study the possibilities of a waterfront park. One promising location was a piece of S.D. Warren Co. land on upper Dundee Pond. President George Olmsted of S.D. Warren offered to donate the land if practical park development plans could be worked out.

An article that passed at the March 1966 Town Meeting Agenda included establishing a Park and Conservation Commission. Chaired by Jack Clark, the Commission included Bob Hunt, Doreen Warren, Merton Johnson and Douglas Marston. This group was charged with providing detailed park plans to pass the scrutiny of S.D. Warren.

On June 7, Olmsted approved the plans and sold the property, appraised at $31,000 ($217,000 in 2012 dollars) to Windham for one dollar. Kenneth Hawkes donated an additional small plot and Central Maine Power granted use of some of its adjoining land for a parking area.

Using the property as their share, the town applied for and received matching federal funds of $31,000. The approval came on Dec. 28, 1966.

Building the park was accomplished by the work of dozens of individuals, and assistance also came from the Men’s Correctional Center, University of Maine Recreation Advisor, Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Service, Maine State Park and Recreation Commission, Windham High School Vocational Trades program and the town of Windham’s Public Works Department.

Volunteers from the town donated their time and the use of their heavy equipment, hauling in sand when needed, building a beach! Thousands of Windham youngsters learned to swim at Dundee Park, which has become one of the best parts of Windham – built by volunteers!