Friends of Piscataquog River Park

Friends of Piscataquog River Park is a passionate group dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of Piscataquog River Park in Manchester, NH. Located on the West Side of Manchester, Piscataquog River Park is a city-owned park that spreads across 112 acres of forest and fields that border both banks of the Piscataquog River. Visitors can explore two miles of multi-use trails that meander along the river and through the woods. Bird-watching enthusiasts will enjoy the large variety of birds, including great blue herons, bald eagles, red-bellied woodpeckers, scarlet tanagers, and more. Bears, deer, bobcat, and more have also been spotted in the park, making it an important wildlife refuge in Manchester. Walking, fishing, swimming, and kayaking are also popular activities.

The Friends of Piscataquog River Park was started in 2022 by a group of neighbors concerned about the condition of the park. After formalizing our group, we are now the official stewardship partner of Manchester Parks and Recreation and a registered 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

Since November 2022, we:

• held 21 volunteer events
• worked with over 300 volunteers and 1,000+ volunteer hours
• removed 3+ tons of trash, including 75 tires
• removed invasive weeds throughout the park, and
• we plan to install our first pollinator garden in the summer of 2026

Our mission is to create a thriving, sustainable environment that fosters community engagement and appreciation for our local ecosystem. We want to make the park cleaner, greener, and more accessible for all. But we can't do it alone! Help support our future improvements to the park, including:

• planting a pollinator garden
• improving our trail systems and signage
• creating a park master plan
• implementing wetland restoration projects

Most importantly, our funds go towards feeding our great volunteers during our events, including invasive species removal days, our annual Spring Clean-up Extravaganza, and bird walks with NH Audubon.

Thank you for supporting our group and making the park a place for all to enjoy!