Presentation at the 2015 Massachusetts Sustainable Communities and Campuses Conference

1. City of Leominster
Working toward Sustainability for more
than 20 years

2. Key planning documents
created a strong beginning
l 1998 – Growth Management Plan – a
plan for every part of Leominster
l 1998 – Leominster was one of the first
communities to complete an Open
Space Plan

3. Preserved over 2000 acres of open
space – almost every parcel around
our watershed

4. 26 miles of trails

5. Rehabbing and building playgrounds
Fournier Park
Southeast
Third Street – coming this year

6. Sholan Farms

7. Sholan Farms
l 167 acres
l Family farm dated back to 1740.
l In 2000, the Possick Family proposed a
161 house subdivision.
l Purchased by City in 2001 under
Agricultural Preservation Restriction -
APR
l City/state funded partnership totaling
$4.75 million

8. A Farm stand in full swing
l Strong grassroots organization/community buy
in made all the difference
l Today the farm includes 60 acres of production
including apples, trees, blueberries and
pumpkins.
l 36 varieties of apples
l Run by more than 300 volunteers and 1 ½ paid
staff people.
l Fully operational stand with range of
merchandise.

9. Sholan Apples
l When the apples are ready
– they are ready!
l 36 Varieties of apples currently at
Sholan
l Farm runs a u-pick operation August-
October
l Apples also sold at the farm stand

10. An event for every season
l Twilight hikes (trail system connects to
Sholan)
l Snowshoeing
l Festivals
l U pick
l Weekend entertainment/hayrides
l School tours

11. So much to do at Sholan
Hayrides
Scarecrow Festival

12. Apple Blossom Festival
Working to ready the community gardens (2.5 acres)

13. Sholan and the City – marketing
beyond our borders to attract new
residents, businesses and visitors