Construction has finally started on the $3.5 million Mill City Park in Franklin, which officials say has the potential to generate about $7 million annually, and attract up to 150,000 visitors a year to the city. Recently, organizers and Franklin residents gathered to attend the groundbreaking in downtown after the long awaited six years of planning.
In the first phase of the Mill City Park in Franklin project, a wave producing, in-water structure will be built into the Winnipesaukee River, which can enable visitors to participate in kayaking, boogie board and whitewater rafting all through the year. The Whitewater park will provide outdoor excitement to water lovers, and in addition to the wave feature, a viewing area is also visible just below Trestle View Park.
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At the ground breaking ceremony, the U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., told the audience that she has been in Franklin many times to work with city officials on projects, and whenever she was around she heard about the Mill City Park a lot.
Kuster also said, “To see the river come back and for it to again become an economic driver of the city is very exciting.”
On completion, the 13-acre Mill City Park in Franklin will also include two more viewing areas on its upper section, an amphitheater, a walking trail, parkour area, climbing wall, community garden, water play areas and a mountain-bike track. It is expected to be operational and open to the public at Franklin Falls by the end of September
The founder and executive director of Mill City Park, Marty Parichand mentioned that there are upto 300 whitewater parks in the US, with over 30 in Colorado alone, but none in New Hampshire. He also talked about the significance of the park in terms of forging connections in the community.
Parichand said, “I’m very excited to surf until my arms fall off.” He added, “But the intangible aspects, the growth that we’re seeing, the benefits to our community, and certainly the relationships that I’ve been able to form… are more important.”
