Sanford Community Forest

457-acres of forests and wetlands in western Sanford

Address: 433 Oak St/11A, Sanford

Visit the .38 mile wheelchair-accessible All Person’s Nature Trail. Drop in any time to explore.

7/22/26 A quick update for visitors to the Sanford Community Forest:

The accessible portable restroom has been delivered for the season. 

Enjoy this photos of the flowering dogwood tree planted during our Arbor Day celebration. It is wonderful to see this native tree blooming and attracting pollinators!

Sanford Community Forest Map

The large undeveloped area is less than three miles from downtown Sanford, and connects to both the Rail Trail and other conserved lands.

Three Rivers Land Trust would like to see the Community Forest become a resource for and a benefit to Sanford and all our communities. We successfully purchased the Forest in September 2021, and all donations now go toward supporting trail building and enhancements, in addition to native planting projects to restore the health of the forest. Read below on our progress and the vision for the future!

• What makes the forest special?
• Property map
• Fundraising – what costs will my donation help with?
• The vision – how will the forest benefit the community?

What makes the forest special?

The Sanford Community Forest will be a unique and important recreation area for the city of Sanford due to its proximity to downtown Sanford and the center of Springvale. We were committed to protecting the property as it is rare to find a large parcel of land this close to a thriving city. The Forest will provide a place for recreation, and the forests and wetlands will protect air and water quality, in addition to storing carbon. The Forest will also serve as a place for education – it will be open to school groups and others to take field trips and learn about our native plants and wildlife.

Three Rivers is still seeking collaboration with other conservation organizations and local recreation groups to plan for the future of the forest and trails. Right now, you can get involved by joining our native plants volunteers, or volunteering to help us clear the way for the new accessible trail – you can sign up online and let us know your interests!

Fundraising

Donations from the community and our members will cover the following:

• Installation of a trailhead on Oak Street – kiosks and signage
• Improvements to existing trails and building new trails
• Stewardship funds – Dedicated funds to help care for the property over time

“It is so exceptional to have a large tract of forest within a city, and this is a wonderful opportunity to preserve these woods. In a time when so many of us are even more appreciative than usual of time outdoors, we are pleased to be planning trails in a forest that can be enjoyed for many generations to come.”

Amy Titcomb, Three Rivers Land Trust

Map

The Vision

It is rare that a city has a forest this size within its limits, let alone one that includes thriving wetlands and connection to an existing trail system. The Sanford Community Forest can be managed for trails, public enjoyment, and ecological health.

Development pressure in our region continues to grow, and land parcels of this size are becoming rarer. Three Rivers envisions protection of the wetlands and forests for climate protection. These 550 acres are precious as a large block of unfragmented habitat for plant and animal species, and as a recreation space for residents and visitors.

The Wetlands Trail – West Side

The funding for the wetland-rich western 310 acres came from the Maine Natural Resources Conservation Program, which prioritizes wetland protection and will not permit forestry or intensive recreation, keeping this part of the property wilder and able to mature into an old-growth forest. A single trail will curve through the western side, allowing nature observation and low-impact recreation.

Recreation & Forestry – East Side

The upland east side of the forest will feature a walking trail, and may in the future be gently harvested to improve forest health and wildlife habitat.

Mountain Biking

Mountain biking is becoming a popular and healthy way to experience the outdoors. Linked with Sanford’s 22-mile network of bike- and footpaths, the new trails at the Community Forest could attract mountain bike enthusiasts and foster collaboration between Three Rivers and Mousam Way Land Trust to build new trails or specialized routes.

Demonstration Forest

The Sanford Community Forest will have about 240 acres available for sustainable forest management and will allow Three Rivers and its partners to showcase carbon sequestration forestry, serving as an example for private landowners in the region. The horticulture program at Sanford Regional Technical Center would be invited to join Project Learning Tree and develop a Forest Inventory Growth plot — teaching students about basic forestry concepts.

The Sanford Community Forest is part of the former LaValley Lumber forests. Three Rivers would like to see the legacy of Maine timber honored here through responsible and sustainable forestry. The Community Forest will serve as a model and become a place to learn.

Arboretum in the Wild

While meeting the goals of sustainable, carbon-focused forestry, we envision a property that will have diverse tree species, habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals, and impressive specimen trees. Thinking even beyond the boundaries of the Community Forest, this vision could encompass the Native Plant Trust’s sanctuary and Mousam Way Land Trust’s chestnut grove.

Working Landscape

The Hanson Ridge-Deering Neighborhood area has Sanford’s strongest agricultural and rural identity, but it is being eroded by housing needs and and solar development. A community forest would strengthen the region’s working landscape identity.

Environmental Equity

The Community Forest could someday be served by public transit from downtown Sanford. This would allow residents without individual transportation to access a quality natural area for enjoyment and recreation. We also plan to design the trailhead to accommodate bus access, so that students across the area could visit for field trips.

We welcome your support!