The City of Franklin's vision to rebrand around outdoor recreation is coming to life with the massive success of Mill City Park's Phase I opening. This unique community revitalization project transformed 1,600 feet of the Winnipesaukee River into the Northeast's first whitewater park, which opened in June 2022. Project leaders estimate that the free, year-round recreational venue will bring up to 185,000 visitors annually and reinvigorate the region's economy with up to $6.8 million of direct spending. The project is having a direct impact on Franklin's revitalization efforts, which over a 10-year period, has created 50 new jobs and more than $80M has been spent on real estate redevelopment.
Following the achievement of the park's first phase, the project team is turning a corner and beginning work on Phase II, which will be even more significant for the City's revitalization efforts. VHB's engineers, scientists, and cultural resources team are collaborating with the City of Franklin, non-profit Mill City Park, and Colorado-based design firm Recreation Engineering and Planning (REP) on this new phase, which will see the extension of the park with two new standing whitewater waves built, including a "surf wave" upstream in the Winnipesaukee River and a pilot channel to connect the features. These enhancements will provide year-round rapids, attracting a wide spectrum of paddling enthusiasts, including kayakers, surfers, and rafters at all experience levels.
"Phase I of the whitewater park proved that free outdoor recreation can be a cornerstone of Franklin's economic and social resurgence," said Marty Parichand, Executive Director of Mill City Park. "Phase II will build off that growth and enhance the whitewater park with two additional features: a slalom course and New England's first river surfing wave -- yes, you will be able to ride a surfboard in the river every day of the year!"
To implement Phase II, the City of Franklin secured a $2.5 million grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD Grants provide funding for a wide variety of community-based projects, such as public facilities, parks, housing, homelessness prevention, workforce training, and resilience planning. VHB assisted the City throughout the grant process, supporting the development of an environmental assessment of the area under compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The purpose of the park's expansion is to catalyze economic recovery in the City of Franklin, providing healthy outdoor recreation opportunities within the local community and greater New Hampshire region. Phase I of the project has jumpstarted the City's revitalization with the opening of a new coffee shop, three new restaurants, two new microbreweries, an outdoor gear store, and a major condo redevelopment project. Chinburg Builders, a New Hampshire-based development and construction firm, successfully redeveloped the underutilized Stevens Mill complex into residential units, which are already all occupied by young people flooding the area.
"We're excited to contribute to the renewal of Franklin," said Eric Chinburg, Owner and President of Chinburg Builders. "It's been amazing to see the impact this redevelopment has had on the community's growth."
The addition of two new whitewater features will generate additional employment opportunities, support the long-term vitality of Franklin's economy, and build a better connected, equitable, and sustainable city.
For those in the area, Mill City Park is hosting the 2025 Boat Bash on Saturday March 1, an event of whitewater kayak races down the snowy slopes at Veterans Memorial Recreation Area. Food, beverages, and discounted ski passes will be available for purchase. Be sure to mark your calendars for Mill City Park's annual whitewater festival, Winni River Days, which will take place on June 13-14, 2025