Members of Friends of Downtown celebrate the Heart & Soul process with a cake. Photo: Friends of Downtown
What began as a small gathering over donuts has grown into a community-wide effort to help shape Sanford’s future. Since 2021, Friends of Downtown Sanford has led the Community Heart & Soul process, a resident-driven approach to planning that starts by asking people what they value about their community and what they would like to see improved.
Volunteers brought that question directly to the people of Sanford. They gathered input at farmers’ markets, schools, faith organizations, nonprofits, local businesses and community events. Longtime residents, newcomers, young people and older adults were all encouraged to participate. In total, a little over 400 people contributed to the process through conversations, interviews, surveys and community events. None of this could be accomplished without a great group of volunteers that simply love Sanford.
Looking Ahead While Honoring Sanford’s Past
Sanford is no longer defined solely by its history as a textile mill community, although residents remain proud of the grit, work ethic and generational connections that history created. At the same time, the city is experiencing new investment, population growth and greater diversity.
Community Heart & Soul gave residents a way to talk about how Sanford can move forward while preserving the qualities that make it feel like home. The effort began when Friends of Downtown Sanford formed in 2021. An early public event, Desserts First, attracted more than 90 people and helped build momentum. Volunteers later secured a $10,000 Community Heart & Soul seed grant and raised an additional $10,000 in matching funds.
Over the next several years, volunteers collected stories, built community partnerships and organized events designed to reach people who may not ordinarily participate in municipal meetings or traditional planning processes. “Sanford citizens have grit,” one participant shared during an interview at the Trafton Center. “Citizens work hard for what they have and believe strongly in their community—and want to see it recognized for the place they have grown to love and call home.”
5 Themes and 82 Ideas
The comments gathered during the process were reviewed and organized into five themes: Community, Economy, Education, Recreation and Safety. Together, the themes reflect a desire for Sanford to remain a safe, supportive community where people feel connected to one another. Residents value the city’s mill-town heritage and its culture of neighbors helping neighbors. They also want Sanford to welcome new residents and recognize the diversity and new perspectives they bring.
Participants expressed strong support for locally owned businesses, educational opportunities for people of all ages, access to trails and outdoor spaces, and the preservation of Sanford’s family-friendly, small-town atmosphere. The process also gave residents an opportunity to discuss challenges, including homelessness, public drug use, transportation, walkability, and the need to keep public spaces clean, accessible and welcoming.
Residents generated 82 possible action items. Those ideas were further reviewed through public events, an online survey and a community vote. Among the priorities that emerged were rehabilitating Sanford’s historic mill buildings, supporting arts and cultural activities, attracting more locally owned businesses and creating additional events and gathering places. Other ideas included connecting students with local employers, expanding recreational programming, caring for Sanford’s trails, improving sidewalks and bicycle routes, and creating a welcome packet for new residents.
Signs of Progress
Some of the priorities identified through Heart & Soul are already visible in the community. The redevelopment of one of Sanford’s historic mill buildings is nearly completed, and work on another mill project is expected to begin in spring 2027. These projects support the community’s desire to preserve Sanford’s history while finding new uses for important downtown properties.
The process is also encouraging more people to become directly involved. Following the presentation of the Community Heart & Soul report to the Sanford City Council, two residents approached Friends of Downtown Sanford about joining the organization and helping implement the action items. That response is an important outcome of the process. Community Heart & Soul was never intended to produce a plan that would simply sit on a shelf. Its purpose is to help residents, businesses, organizations and city leaders identify shared priorities and then work together to advance them.
The Next Steps
The Community Heart & Soul summary report has been presented to the Sanford City Council. The council referred it to committee and legal review as the city works toward formally adopting the Heart & Soul statements by resolution. Formal adoption would recognize the statements as an expression of what Sanford residents value and provide guidance that can be considered during future planning and policy discussions.
Friends of Downtown Sanford will continue to provide support and coordination, but implementation will depend on participation from across the community. Individuals, businesses and organizations are encouraged to choose the action items that most closely match their interests, experience or resources.
Whether someone is interested in downtown revitalization, the arts, recreation, education, neighborhood connections or community events, there is an opportunity to help. To learn more about the Heart & Soul statements, review the action items or become involved in implementation, contact Mary Hastings at 207-608-4176 or mwhastings@sanfordmaine.org.
The process began by asking people what matters most to them. Its success will now depend on people coming together to turn those shared priorities into action.
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