Downtowns & Trails

  • Three people walking on a paved riverside path toward a white gazebo.

Revitalizing Downtowns - One Trail at a Time

New Hampshire's natural resources are its greatest asset. Our New Hampshire economy grows when our forests, trails, waters, are well taken care of, used by residents and visitors and linked to our downtowns.

Downtowns & Trails Program

Communities in New England often seek support for downtown economic development engagement and planning from Extension Educators. Communities are also beginning to question how their natural assets can be better integrated into improvements in quality of life and downtown vibrancy. Trail infrastructure can be an important natural asset. Between 2017-2018 we developed a knowledge sharing network in New England so that Extension organizations could better understand and leverage existing knowledge, resources, and programs to help communities connect downtown economic development and local trails. This network has resulted in a guide to be used throughout New England and beyond as well as the foundation of our Downtowns & Trails Program at the University of New Hampshire’s Cooperative Extension.

Ashuelot Bridge in Keene New Hamsphire in autumn

Articles

Canadian geese feeding on green grass in a park
Getting to Work with DIRT
Individuals from over twenty groups, organizations, and municipalities from the greater Franklin-Northfield-Tilton “Foothills” region of New Hampshire... Learn More
Multiple vendor tents set up in a grassy area
The Graniteer Festival and the Value of Making Time to Be Together
During the final weekend of September, just as the maple trees were starting to turn red up north, hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts gathered in Francon... Learn More
Gazebo in park
The Right Connection
Downtowns and Trails program helps communities utilize the natural and built world
Extension state specialist and professor Shannon Rogers and Extension field specialist Jada Lindblom have worked with the City of Keene on developing ... Learn More
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Events

Resources

Cover page of webinar slide presentation, title bar with walkway covered in autumn leaves in the background
Connecting Downtowns & Trails: Opportunities & Challenges
Many communities have trails in close proximity to their downtowns/village centers/business districts. We share the opportunities and challenges of wo... Learn More
Report cover with picture of the Contoocook River from the bridge
Strengthening Connections: Downtowns & Trails - Hopkinton-Contoocook, 2023
Over a series of months, we worked with the Hopkinton, New Hampshire community on how to better connect its trails with its business center, the Villa... Learn More
Female person with cell phone in hand
Engaging Communities with Story Maps
A story map is a web map that combines mapping with text, photos, multimedia and functionality to generate a stand-alone resource. Story maps use geog... Learn More
Shaded walkway path along river with bistro style seating.
Access to Nature and Its Economic Implications
The Nature Economy Collaborative, supported by UNH Collaborative Research Excellence, is pleased to share a brand-new information brief on the communi... Learn More
Opening image - Trail Stewardship report
Trail Stewardship in Coös County, NH
This report studies possible solutions to trail stewardship challenges in Coos County New Hampshire. Learn More
graphic of tree lined streets
Eight Ways Nature Supports New Hampshire's Economy
New Hampshire is fortunate to have many natural assets that support our quality of life and economic vibrancy. In a new info brief we share eight spec... Learn More
graphic of trails connecting to a downtown
Nature Supports a Vibrant Downtown Economy
Nature and access to natural assets can be important components of a downtown economy. In this new brief from the Nature Economy Collaborative, we det... Learn More
Ossipee train bridge
Strengthening Connections: Downtowns & Trails - Ossipee, NH 2022
Over the past two years, interrupted but not deterred by the ongoing pandemic, we worked adaptively and creatively with the Ossipee Economic Developme... Learn More
Ashuelot Bridge
Strengthening Connections: Downtowns & Trails - Keene, NH 2022
Over six months, from Sept. 2021-March 2022, we worked with the City of Keene on how to better connect two rail trails with their downtown businesses.... Learn More
Pedestrian bridge in Bristol New Hampshire
Strengthening Connections: Downtowns & Trails - Bristol, NH 2019
We recently completed a pilot of our Downtowns & Trails program in Bristol, NH.  This final report summarizes the work we've done with the co... Learn More
Connecting Downtowns and Trails
In May 2018, the team traveled on a train-the-trainer trip to Kentucky’s Trail Towns program. During the trip, the group visited and assessed four dif... Learn More
Nature Economy Fact Sheet #1: The Economic Benefits of Trails
Many communities in New Hampshire and beyond, have natural assets such as trails that can be leveraged for economic vibrancy. In this fact sheet, the ... Learn More

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