FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, September 27, 2024
THE WINDHAM FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO AQUIRE 34 ACRES IN HENSONVILLE
AND DESIGNATE IT FOR FUTURE COMMUNITY USE
Approximately seven acres to be assigned for construction of Little League baseball fields
Remaining acreage to be set aside to address needs of Windham community
Property may ultimately connect to Windham Path via a new 1.5 mile extension on the “Dent Loop”
WINDHAM, NEW YORK (September 27, 2024) – The Windham Foundation of New York, Inc., the
nonprofit philanthropic organization founded in 2004 to enhance and enrich Windham’s community
through charitable grants for historical preservation, the arts, education and recreation, announced
today its intention to acquire approximately 34 acres of land in Hensonville for future community use.
Hensonville is one of eight hamlets of the town of Windham neighboring New York’s Catskills Park.
The property is now under contract to The Windham Foundation and is expected to close within 60 days.
The $500,000 purchase price for the land, was agreed to thanks to the multi-generational communityminded spirit of its current owners, Sotirios and Georgia Econopouly and their children Demetrios, Kathy
and Joanne. The Windham Foundation will initiate a new capital fundraising campaign to pay the
balance of a seller’s note, and to facilitate further development of the land and other causes.
The now-undeveloped land, nestled along Greene County Route 65A, known locally as Seeley Road, was
at one time home to Kallithea Farm, The Kallithea and the Orchard Grove House, a hotel property which
was destroyed by fire in 1988. Pending anticipated acceptance by the Town of Windham and any
required approvals, the parcel will take on a new use as home to a seven-acre Little League Baseball
facility, with the remainder of the land set aside for future community use. Arrangements for the plan
were facilitated through cooperative work between leadership of The Windham Foundation and
Windham Town Supervisor Thomas Hoyt. Construction of the ball fields is expected to begin in 2025.
Separately, the Town of Windham, facilitated by Windham Foundation President Paul Mutter and Vice
President Matt Rodrigue, received approval from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to
establish a 1.5 mile extension of the Windham Path through adjoining woods on town-owned land
known as the “Dent Loop.” Following Phase 1 of clearing the new trail, which will also begin next year,
Phase 2 of the project envisions linking the Dent Loop to the Econopouly 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.
“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 Paul Mutter, President of The Windham Foundation. “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,” Mutter added.