Greenfield State Park reopens after renovations

Bikes of young campers left by the ramp at Campers’ Beach. 

Bikes of young campers left by the ramp at Campers’ Beach.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

The picnic area at Greenfield State Park. 
 

The picnic area at Greenfield State Park.    STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Roads at Greenfield State Park were repaved and repaired while the park was closed. 

Roads at Greenfield State Park were repaved and repaired while the park was closed.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

The office of Greenfield State Park. 

The office of Greenfield State Park.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

The accessible ramp leading to the camper’s beach at Greenfield State Park. 

The accessible ramp leading to the camper’s beach at Greenfield State Park.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Campers enjoying Otter Lake on June 21. 

Campers enjoying Otter Lake on June 21.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

A camper launching a kayak at Greenfield State Park. 

A camper launching a kayak at Greenfield State Park.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Greenfield State Park was packed with happy visitors on the first hot Saturday of the season.

Greenfield State Park was packed with happy visitors on the first hot Saturday of the season. STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Restrooms and the shower house were upgraded while the park was closed. 

Restrooms and the shower house were upgraded while the park was closed.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

The office at Greenfield State park is an example of vintage State Park architecture. 

The office at Greenfield State park is an example of vintage State Park architecture.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Greenfield State Park reopened to visitors on June 13. 

Greenfield State Park reopened to visitors on June 13.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Greenfield State Park is the largest campground in the NH State Park system. 

Greenfield State Park is the largest campground in the NH State Park system.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

A view of Otter Lake from a picnic table at Greenfield State Park. 

A view of Otter Lake from a picnic table at Greenfield State Park.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

George and Nancy Boren of Troy have been coming to the park for 12 years. 

George and Nancy Boren of Troy have been coming to the park for 12 years.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

The day-use beach. 

The day-use beach.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

The Roy family came for the weekend from Manchester. 

The Roy family came for the weekend from Manchester.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Campers take advantage of perfect weather on June 20.

Campers take advantage of perfect weather on June 20. STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Ariel LeBlanc of Peterborough brought her children camping for the first time. 

Ariel LeBlanc of Peterborough brought her children camping for the first time.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

Campers registering at the office and checking out the store at Greenfield State Park. 

Campers registering at the office and checking out the store at Greenfield State Park.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

A display of nature photographs taken by campers in the store. 

A display of nature photographs taken by campers in the store.  STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS

By JESSECA TIMMONS

Monadnock Ledger Transcript

Published: 07-03-2025 12:04 PM

After more than a year of repairs and renovations, Greenfield State Park reopened to the public on June 13.

“We are very excited to have Greenfield State Park back open, with all campsites available for reservations and so many necessary and impactful upgrades completed,” said Greg Keeler, marketing and communications director for NH State Parks. “Greenfield is the largest New Hampshire State Park campground, with 250 campsites and a very popular day-use beach, so while having it closed for an entire season in 2024 had a significant impact on park operations as well as our guests’ ability to visit, these upgrades will provide for Greenfield State Park’s success into the future.”

The park closed in fall 2023 for upgrades to utilities and infrastructure, and was closed for the entire summer 2024 camping season. Upgrades include moving the park’s network of electric and communication lines underground, improving water and sewer utilities, construction of a new RV dump station to accommodate additional RVs and a new toll booth at the entrance to the park.

While opening weekend was cool and rainy, the longest day of the year, June 20, was a perfect summer day at the park.

“We’re really glad its back open,” said George Boren of Troy, who was at the beach with his wife, Nancy.

The Borens have been regulars at the park for about 12 years.

“We spend all our weekends here, camping,” George Boren said. “I hated to see it closed last year, but they did a lot of improvements, and it makes a big difference.

Sarah LeBlanc of Peterborough was at the park for the first time June 21 with her three children.

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“I wanted to take them camping, because they have never been, but I didn’t want to go too far away in case of weather, so this is perfect,” LeBlanc said. “It’s a beautiful park.”

In March 2023, the park was seriously impacted by a blizzard that dropped over three feet of snow on the region in 24 hours. The heavy, wet snow brought down hundreds of trees in the state park. Former NH State Parks spokesperson Sean Hamilton stated at the time that the damage was “the most he had ever seen in a single park.”

“We worked all day, every day for a month-and-a-half to get the park open by Memorial Day 2023,” Hamilton stated.

According to Hamilton, the Park Service had considered keeping the park open and offering some recreation during the summer of 2024, but after talking it over with project managers and vendors, the department decided the project would be too disruptive to camper experience.

Greenfield State Park, which includes 400 acres of land, opened in 1968. According to NH State Parks, over $1 million in ARPA funds were used to complete the repairs. Keeler said about half of the roads in the park were repaved, including the main road into the campground and the main loop road.

“Roads throughout the park were in need of repair, which was made significantly worse from major storm events just prior to the 2024 summer season,” Keeler stated.

The park’s bathhouses were also upgraded, with new fixtures, tile and paint. Much of the work was done by park staff.

“It’s definitely nicer. We noticed a big difference,” said Araceli Torres of Haverhill, Mass., who was visiting the park with friends.

According to Keeler, upgrades at the park’s beach shop are still underway, and are expected to be completed later in the summer. The repairs will not affect boat rentals or the use of the beach.

Jessica Weeks, manager of Greenfield’s Harvester Market, said she definitely noticed an increase in business during the first warm weekend at the park.

“We’re definitely glad it’s open again,” Weeks said. “We could see the impact right away.”

To make reservations at Greenfield State Park or for information, go to nhstateparks.org/find-parks-trails/greenfield-state-park.