Gorham is growing. And whether we like it or not, growth is inevitable. But where and how it happens is not. With careful thought and planning, growth can be defined in a way that balances and protects the rural nature, open spaces and natural resources at the heart of the town we all love.
A group of dedicated community representatives and elected officials, with guidance from an experienced planning consulting group, is hard at work designing The Gorham Open Space & Trails Master Plan (GOSTMP). The plan represents an opportunity to be proactive and smart, essentially pre-planning for open space, trails and recreation in the face of residential growth pressures.
Carol Eyerman, Gorham’s Town Planner said, ”Open space planning is a critical aspect of town planning that focuses on the strategic use and preservation of land. The Town staff is proud to be working hand-in-hand with our community to develop Gorham’s very first Open Space and Trails Plan. This important initiative will help shape the future of our parks, trails, and natural areas— ensuring they remain vibrant, accessible, and preserved for generations to come.”
In order to accomplish this, the Gorham Open Space & Trails Master Plan (GOSTMP) is gathering a broad array of input from the community. A recent survey garnered 400 responses from residents with a large amount of data about the needs for Open Spaces in specific parts of Gorham. The final GOSTMP plan will will become part of a new Comprehensive plan for the Town. Gorham’s last comprehensive plan was adopted in 2016.
At a recent public workshop held at the Gorham Municipal Center, community members of all ages and from all parts of town met with members of the GOSTMP Committee to ask questions and to offer specific comments on several large scale maps of Gorham. Where should trails be built, and for what kind of use? How can we protect farm land? How to create a comprehensive trail connectivity plan? Where is there a need for recreational parks of all sizes and how big should they be? and what amenities would be desirable?
NorthStar Planning, a local planning company, has been hired to help the Gorham committee members make sense of the data being collected. NorthStar has guided towns throughout Maine as they worked to build solid, comprehensive plans. The Little Falls Comprehensive Plan, a joint Gorham and Windham revitalization effort, was facilitated by NorthStar.
GOSTMP members are Jenn Grant, Agricultural community; James Hager, Planning Board; Rob LaVoie; Town Council; Charlie Springer, Member of the public; Ernie Wells, Gorham Conservation Commission.
If you are interested in more information about the Open Space planning effort, visit https://www.gorhamopenspace.me/ You can also sign up here to receive updates as plans progress and can also offer ideas and suggestions.
Gorham has a population of 18,346. It covers 51.29 square miles. Existing amenities include five parks, six tennis courts, six basketball courts, twelve 60ft softball/baseball diamonds (one of which is lighted for softball), one bike pump track, one skateboard park, eleven pickleball courts, two 90 ft baseball diamonds (one of which is lighted), one open-space field area, two indoor gymnasiums, two community gardens, three ice skating areas, one riverfront dock, two playgrounds not attached to schools, three school playgrounds, one community space/ function hall, one activity center for childcare and senior programs, five multiuse fields, one concession/restroom/maintenance building and two multi-modal public paths/ trails. This count does not include Presumpscot Regional Land Trust Preserves that fully or partially fall within Gorham.