Greenfield State Park will be closed for the entire 2024 summer season, with no camping or day use offered, while the park undergoes a major infrastructure project focused on utilities.  

Shawn Hamilton, deputy supervisor of park operations at the New Hampshire Department Natural and Cultural Resources, which includes New Hampshire State Parks, said the park received American Rescue Plan Act funds two years ago to address infrastructure issues. The funds will be used primarily to move electric and communications lines underground throughout the park.

“Greenfield State Park has a lot of tree cover, and all the electric lines are overhead,” Hamilton said. “Every season, storms come though and the park loses power while we have campers in the park. It’s a recurring issue that we’re trying to get rid of.” 

When asked if the March 2023 blizzard impacted the decision to close the park, Hamilton said, “The extensive tree damage in March confirmed the decision we had already made. It was the most tree damage I had ever seen in a single park, and it took a massive effort to get the park open by Memorial Day weekend. We worked all day every day for a month-and-a-half to make that happen.” 

The project will also include extending fiber internet to the entire park. Currently, fiber service extends only to the park office and the maintenance garage, while the park store and the day-use tollbooth are still using DSL.

“We have a comprehensive point-of-sale system, and we really need fiber at the store and the tollbooth to streamline our services,” Hamilton said.  “It will make for a much better experience for guests.” 

The Park Service hopes to complete other projects in the park while it is closed for the summer, potentially including paving and upgrades to facilities, but these projects are not yet confirmed. Recent improvements at the park include the installation of dishwashing sinks and aesthetic improvements to the bathhouses. 

Hamilton said 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, they decided the project would be too disruptive to camper experience. 

“We hope that when people return to Greenfield in 2025, it will be a grand reopening and a greatly improved experience for everyone,” Hamilton said.  

Jessica Weeks, manager of Delay’s Harvester Market, said the closing of the park for the whole summer will definitely be a blow. 

“It will hurt business for sure. I wish they could figure out a way to have part of it open next summer, but overall, it’s a good thing that they’re doing renovations.  It will make the park far better for  years to come,” Weeks said. “The year after the renovations, we should see an uptick in business, and overall, it will be better for everyone going forward.”  

Weeks added jokingly that “the locals will be happy!” at the reduction in traffic going through town next summer. 

 For information about New Hampshire State Parks, go to nhstateparks.org.