“What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.” – Abraham Lincoln
Lane/Tommy: Are the proposals to expand the Windham Parks and Recreation Department absolutely necessary? Where do we live? Is it in a big city full of high rise buildings, asphalt, concrete and only a couple of trees? No, we live a state which calls itself Vacation Land although we feel it should be called Taxation Land.
Delorme’s Atlas and Gazetteer (2003 edition) lists 42 sand beaches on the coast, 37 nature preserves with foot trails, 47 municipal, state and national parks and recreation areas and 22 state fish and wildlife management areas.
Also listed are 66 hiking trails for day hikers and backpackers, 71 unique natural areas including gorges, caves and cliffs plus 44 scenic waterfalls. Then 53 canoe trips, 57 lighthouses and 27 historic forts are listed. Please remember this listing is from 2003 and does not include such places as the Mountain Division Trail and Chaffin Pond. There are also thousands of lakes, ponds, streams and rivers for recreation. Who knows how many additional places could be added to this list. Some are free and others are available at a small charge.
Tommy: I drove around the Windham High School campus recently and noticed ample recreation areas like tennis courts, playgrounds, baseball and soccer fields. Some were fenced in and access was locked. Some had signs that stated “do not use without permission.” Then I drove to Gambo Field with its soccer fields, and the facilities were closed and secured with padlocks. Later I returned to the Windham High School campus and noticed a few citizens using some of the facilities.
Lane: I certainly have no problem finding areas to do what I want for recreation in this state. Even with my disabilities I can find places to fish that have easy access for me. This is true whether in Windham, Porter or Lincoln. I have never had to pay in order to have access to fish where I want.
Lane/Tommy: With a plentiful supply of places for recreation in this state, how much more should taxpayers be paying for the wants of those who desire everything at everyone else’s expense?
Two community forums have been held by the Windham Parks and Recs Department where citizens who were interested stated their interest in creating more projects with our tax dollars. Several of these proposed items already can be found in Windham. Some examples are ball fields, playgrounds, basketball or tennis courts, public swimming pool (531 Windham residents use St. Joseph’s College pool) and more natural spaces and land preserves. Another proposal was public access to Big and Little Sebago Lakes, which is kind of perplexing because when one looks at a map of boat launches around these lakes there is already adequate access.
Lane: If you want to help preserve land and natural spaces in Windham please feel free to join the Windham Land Trust and donate your money, not mine! That’s what I did. If you want access to a lake, try buying property there. If you can’t afford it, do like I do and find a place that’s free.
Tommy: As I have stated before, it is time to combine services instead of having a duplication of services. Let’s decide who is going to have more recreation responsibility, the School Department or the Parks and Recreation Department. Are we having a contest as to who ends up with the most marbles?
Lane/Tommy: What should be the scope of responsibility of the Windham Parks and Recreation Department and how much of that should be paid for by tax dollars? Some of the other proposals at the aforementioned forums were BMX bike track, network of bike trails and a place for people to play horseshoes. Isn’t it fair to say that if a number of people have wants, shouldn’t they form a club or organization so they can build and own for their wants? All one has to do is look at various nonprofit or fraternal organizations that provide for the wants of their members.
Tommy: Some councilors and citizens have asked for more parks and recreation areas in Windham to satisfy their wants. It is time for those who want to open their own bank accounts to fund what they want.
Lane: It is time for the empire building to cease in the town of Windham and elsewhere in the state of Maine. Our country was not formed to be a Socialist state that robs Peter in order to pay Paul because Paul not only depends on it, he loves it.
Lane/Tommy: Any future increases in spending – no matter whether from appropriated or from surplus funds – by the Windham Parks and Recreation Department must be voted on by the registered voters of Windham by referendum, which includes secret or absentee ballots.
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