2025 All-America City Finalist – Leominster, MA

Leominster, Massachusetts, is a city where civic pride runs deep and community connection drives progress. Known as the birthplace of Johnny Appleseed and the iconic pink flamingo lawn ornament, Leominster blends quirky history with bold action, like preserving the legacy of Chief Sholan through the expansion of the state’s only city-owned apple orchard, Sholan Farms.

With 43,000 residents and over 40 free, city-sponsored events each year, Leominster lives its motto: “If it’s free for me, it’s 01453.” Decades of community-driven planning have shaped a city where access, equity, and the environment take center stage. Since adopting one of Massachusetts’ earliest Open Space and Recreation Plans in the 1990s, Leominster has preserved over 2,000 acres of open space, built a 32-mile trail network, and planted nearly 3,500 trees since 2016.

Leominster’s culture of responsiveness is unmatched. From Facebook livestreams to multilingual outreach, residents are heard and helped. That connection was lifesaving during the 2023 1,000-year flood, when strong infrastructure and communication systems protected lives and property.

Leominster is a proud, resilient city shaped by the voices and values of its people—and always ready to grow stronger, together.

Sholan Farms

In 1999, Leominster faced a defining moment when the Pollack family announced plans to sell 169 acres of prime farmland—the city’s last working apple orchard. With a $4 million price tag, the future of this iconic land in the birthplace of Johnny Appleseed seemed uncertain. But a grassroots movement quickly formed: students wrote letters, residents packed city meetings, and “Save the Orchard” signs filled front yards. Through a combination of state funding, local fundraising, and a city council vote to fund a third of the cost, the land was preserved—marking the birth of Sholan Farms.

The real challenge began immediately: harvesting and managing the orchard. That first year, the mayor and city staff picked apples and sold them from city hall. Today, Sholan Farms is managed by the nonprofit Friends of Sholan Farms, with over 300 volunteers, 250 members, and 15 seasonal staff. The farm is self-sustaining through produce sales, grants, and partnerships.

Now spanning 167 acres—80 of them active orchards—Sholan grows 34 apple varieties and hosts school tours, festivals, research projects, community gardens, and environmental competitions. It’s one of only two city-owned, pick-your-own orchards in Massachusetts and a model of sustainable agriculture, volunteerism, and civic pride.

From Christmas tree sales to hiking trails, Sholan Farms has become a year-round hub for health, learning, and community in Central Massachusetts.

Twin Cities Rail Trail

At one of North Worcester County’s busiest corridors—where 31,000 cars pass daily between Leominster and Fitchburg—residents saw an opportunity in an abandoned railway running parallel to Route 12. What began as a vision to transform that corridor into a safe, vibrant rail trail became a true community effort spanning decades.

 

In 2004, residents formed the Twin Cities Rail Trail Association, a volunteer nonprofit dedicated to building a trail for bikers, walkers, runners, and commuters. Public support surged. Hundreds packed design meetings, thousands followed progress online, and local leaders at every level backed the project. Open space plans dating back to 1997 had consistently ranked walking and biking trails among the region’s top priorities. This was the community putting that vision into action.

With years of advocacy, persistence, and collaboration, the cities of Leominster and Fitchburg secured federal, state, and local funding to purchase the land and bring the project to life. Phase I of the 4.5-mile trail was completed in 2023, with the final segment—linking both downtowns—expected to open this year. The trail now connects residents to commuter rail stations, hospitals, recreation areas, and commercial centers.

Community pride fuels the trail year-round. Local businesses and civic groups sponsor benches and maintenance, while residents clear paths, raise funds, and adapt with snowshoes and cleats in the winter. This is more than a path; it’s a shared investment in health, mobility, and connection.

Leominster Climate Action Plan

In 2019, the City of Leominster launched its Climate Action Plan, fully aware that climate change and local politics could spark division. With a history of strong opinions and long-standing rivalries, city leaders were unsure how the community would respond. But they moved forward, grounded in a belief that collaboration could chart a shared path ahead.

The first public workshop in September 2019 exceeded expectations. Engineers, small business owners, city councilors, nonprofit staff, trail stewards, and residents from diverse backgrounds spent the day identifying climate hazards, assessing community vulnerabilities, and prioritizing actions to build resilience. With shared memories of the 2008 ice storm, the record-breaking snow of 2015, and the rising Nashua River, there was clear consensus: the climate is changing, and the city must adapt.

The draft plan was circulated citywide for feedback and refined through public input before city council approval. One top priority, repairing the Monoosnoc Brook culvert, demonstrated the city’s inclusive approach. After ten public meetings and online surveys, Leominster secured $6.8 million from FEMA to complete the project, preserving downtown parking while creating new green space in an environmental justice neighborhood.

Since adoption, Leominster has made steady progress: upgrading sewer and water systems, stabilizing streambanks, enhancing emergency communications, and installing generators at critical sites. These citizen-driven priorities helped the city respond effectively to major flooding in 2023.

Leominster’s success underscores the power of transparency, public input, and collective action. When everyone moves forward together, success follows.

Return to the complete list of the 2025 All-America City Award Finalists.