Moving to Nashua or a nearby town? One of the easier ways to start feeling at home in a new city is to spend a Saturday morning in a local park. Nashua has a deep bench of public green space, from riverside trails in the heart of downtown to 100-plus-acre historic parks just minutes from Main Street. Here are five worth adding to your list once the boxes are unloaded.
Mine Falls Park
At 325 acres in the center of the city, Mine Falls is the park most locals mention first. It offers roughly nine miles of trails running along the Nashua River on one side and the historic power canal on the other, with pedestrian bridges, an 1886 gatehouse, a dam, and Oxbow Lake along the way. The park supports walking, trail running, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, and cross-country skiing in winter. Entrances sit at Whipple Street, Stadium Drive, and Lincoln Park at Coliseum Avenue. Park hours run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. More info is on the City of Nashua Mine Falls Park page.
Pro Tip: The Green Trail loop starting from Lincoln Park is flat, well-marked, and stroller-friendly — a good first visit for getting your bearings.
Greeley Park
On Concord Street in the north end, Greeley Park covers 125 acres, reaching from the Merrimack River across to Manchester Street. The grounds include a playground, a wading pool, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, baseball fields, picnic areas with grills, restrooms, and a bandstand that hosts free summer concerts. The park also holds the Fairy Tale Festival, an annual Art Show, and a Halloween Fright Night. Greeley has been a public park since 1908 and remains a gathering spot for much of the north side of the city.
Roby Park and the Jeff Morin Playground
Families with young kids tend to land on Roby Park, on Spit Brook Road in the south end near the Pheasant Lane shopping corridor. The playground is fully fenced with two separate play areas — one sized for toddlers and one for older children — along with a zipline, a roller slide, swings, and climbing walls. Shade canopies cover much of the equipment, and soft artificial turf sits under the structures. A paved loop circles the park, and in winter the hill turns into a sledding spot with a nearby outdoor ice rink.
Benson Park in Hudson
Ten minutes from downtown Nashua across the Merrimack River, Benson Park is a 166-acre park in Hudson with roughly four miles of paved and natural loop trails. The site was originally Benson’s Wild Animal Farm, which operated as a zoo and amusement park from 1924 until 1987. Preserved structures including the Old Woman’s Shoe, the Elephant Barn, and the Gorilla House still stand on site with historical markers, giving the park a character you won’t find anywhere else in the region. It also has a dog park, a playground, and a 9/11 memorial that incorporates a steel beam from the World Trade Center. Trail details are at the Town of Hudson Benson Park page.
Nashua Heritage Rail Trail and Nashua River Rail Trail
For longer walks, bike rides, and inline skating, the paved Heritage Rail Trail runs east-west through downtown Nashua, beginning at City Hall on Main Street. A short on-road connection links it to Mine Falls Park, and a second connector ties into the 12.5-mile Nashua River Rail Trail that continues south through Dunstable, Pepperell, Groton, and Ayer, Massachusetts. Both trails are flat, ADA-accessible, and open year-round to walkers, cyclists, and cross-country skiers.
Pro Tip: Park at Yudicky Park on Gilson Road for the Nashua River Rail Trail’s northern trailhead — a quieter starting point than the downtown end.
Settle In with Movers Who Know the Neighborhood
McLaughlin has been moving families into Nashua, Concord, Portsmouth, Lowell, and Woburn since 1936, so our crews know the side streets, the one-ways, and the parking realities of every neighborhood in the area. Whether you’re relocating across town, across New Hampshire, or from another state, our local knowledge helps your move go smoothly. Contact McLaughlin’s Nashua team for a free estimate, and plan your first weekend at one of these parks instead of a pile of boxes.