Mine Falls Park

Mine Falls Park is one of the most instantly recognizable and vital parts of the city of Nashua. The park is located in the heart of the city and was purchased in 1969 with city and federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) monies. The 325-acre park includes forest, wetlands, and open fields; it is bordered on the north by the Nashua River and on the south by the Millpond and canal system.

Visitors enjoy numerous passive recreation opportunities such as walking, boating, fishing, cross-country skiing, and biking. The park also includes several fields for organized sports.

The name "Mine Falls" derives from the 1700s, when low quality lead was supposedly mined from the island below the falls. In the early 1800s the potential of the Nashua River to drive the wheels of industry was recognized. Workers used shovels and mules to dig the three-mile long canal, which provides a vertical drop of 36 feet at the mills.

The Gatehouse near the falls was built in 1886—with the first gates being built in 1826—and it still brings the river to the Millpond. Currently, the gatehouse is the focus of a middle school student lead restoration project. The hydroelectric plant near the falls was built in 1984.

In 1987 the Nashua River Canal and the Nashua Manufacturing Company Historic District (the Millyard) were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1992 the park trails were designated part of the New Hampshire Heritage Trail system, which extends 130 miles along the Merrimack River from Massachusetts to Canada.

Mine Falls Park Rules

*These rules are legally enforcable by City Ordinance Article II, Section 15-16 Parks & Playgrounds

Park hours are 6 AM to 10 PM.

Do:

• Carry out all trash
• Keep pets on leash
• Pick up pet waste
• Stay on established trails
• Get a permit from the Nashua Park & Rec. Dept.* for Group Events

No:

• Motorized vehicles
• Alcohol
• Fires
• Discharge of Firearms
• Camping

Don't:

• Harm or deface trees, plants, wildlife, or rocks
• Damage or deface signs or structures, such as bridges, rocks, etc.
• Create or modify trails without City approval
• Remove Park signs
• Cut trees
• Start fires

Park abuse should be reported to the police: (603) 594-3500

*Nashua Parks and Recreation Dept: 100 Concord St., Nashua, NH 03060; Phone: (603) 589-3370.

* Nashua Parks and Recreation Dept: 100 Concord St, Nashua, NH 03060; Phone: (603) 589-3370

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