Windham Foundation acquires 34 acres of land for community use

WINDHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- The Windham Foundation of New York, a nonprofit philanthropic organization, has announced its set to acquire around 34 acres of land in Hensonville for community use. Seven of those acres will be used to replace Windham's current little league fields.

Since November 2023, the town of Windham has proposed new little league fields at the Windham Path. Community members in Windham and the surrounding hamlets protested the proposal with a petition with over 1,100 signatures in May.

According to the Town Supervisor Thomas Hoyt, since the Path was centrally located, it was an ideal location. The Windham little league features players from all over the mountain top, according to the town.

The drafted plan calls for The Windham Path Little League fields to include two fields, bathrooms, a playground, grandstand, locker rooms, concession stands, dugouts and a pavilion. The plan will also include a 46-car parking lot off the Route 23 entrance to the path.

Residents argued this would disrupt the scenery of the path. They also argued there were better locations for the fields and the accompanying amenities.

The new location, nestled alongside Greene County Route 65A or Seeley Road was once a hotel property that was destroyed in a fire in 1988. The property, owned by Sotirios and Georgia Econopouly and their children was sold to the foundation for $500,000.

According to a release from the foundation, a capital fundraising campaign will be started to pay the balance of a seller's note and to facilitate further development of the land. Hoyt and the nonprofit expect construction for the fields to begin in 2025.

"I grew up in Windham, living and working here all of my life and count as friends both people who were born and remain here, as well as those who have discovered our beautiful corner of the Catskills later in life and enjoy everything we have to offer," said Hoyt. "Healthy debate is vital to a town’s long-term growth, and we have all heard and learned much from one another, resulting in an unprecedented act of generosity from The Windham Foundation that will help us build a ‘Field of Dreams’ for our young people, and so much more, in years to come."

In addition to the fields, the foundation received approval from the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a 1.5-mile extension from the Windham Path through adjourning woods to the "Dent Loop." That loop will eventually be connected to the new property in a two-phase process.

According to the foundation, following the first phase of clearing the new trail, which will also begin next year, the second phase of the project will link the loop to the new property. "When that work is completed, the Windham Path and the land acquired by The Windham Foundation, connected by the 'Dent Loop,' will provide an extraordinary multi-use recreational asset for the Town of Windham," a release from the foundation stated.

Paul Mutter, the president of the Windham Foundation said this solution will benefit everyone in Windham. It will also spur growth in and around Hensonville.

"Over the last year, as we reconstituted and expanded our Board of Directors, we have watched, listened to, and spoken with community leaders, citizens, and other interested parties about Windham’s current and future needs, and we are now pleased to be able to take constructive action to help address them," said Mutter. "When good people on all sides of a debate can come together creatively to find solutions for the benefit of Windham’s year-round and weekender families and children, and the visitors who help grow our local economy, everyone wins."

Donations for the foundation are currently being accepted. To donate, visit the nonprofit's website.