Weeks State Park Association, Inc

The Weeks State Park Association (WSPA) was formed in 1981 in response to drastic reductions in the New Hampshire Parks Department budget, which threatened the closure of Weeks State Park within two years. The WSPA proposed using local volunteers to staff and maintain the park as an important historical, cultural, and natural resource to the community and to the region.  In 1983  the association was formalized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit  with a mission  to encourage and support compatible uses of the Park, protect and benefit its environment, provide educational and recreational opportunities to the public as well as information on the legacy of John Wingate Weeks. 

Weeks State Park and the John Wingate Weeks Historic Site, located on Mount Prospect in Lancaster. New Hampshire, is the former estate and summer home of Lancaster native John Wingate Weeks, a banker and statesman who, as a U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts authored the Weeks Act of 1911 which resulted in the creation of the White Mountain National Forest. He later served in the U.S. Senate as well.  While serving as U.S. Secretary of War, John W, Weeks and his wife Martha hosted the U.S. President Warren G. Harding and his wife Florence, at their summer home atop Mt. Prospect during the summer of 1921.

Since its formation, the Weeks State Park Association and its volunteers have raised funds through memberships and donations to assist with maintaining the grounds, buildings and the 5.7 mile trail system within the Park,  and has successfully advocated for tMr. Weeks' summer home  and observation/fire tower to be placed on the National Registry of Historic Places, and the auto road to the summit of Mount Prospect to be recognized as a New Hampshire Scenic By-Way,  In addition, the WSPA provides educational programs and events to celebrate and share the rich history and natural beauty of the Weeks State Park and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. 

In 2026, the Weeks State Park Association will continue to support the restoration of the  Old Carriage Road Trail built in 1859 to bring visitors to and from a hotel that once occupied the  the summit of Mt. Prospect, as well as several projects on the Park grounds surrounding the summer home and the observation tower, including plantings and new signage.  The WSPA will also present a weekly program series during the summer featuring speakers and media on a variety of local historical, cultural and environmental topics.  Our capstone event, planned for September, will be a community/day at the Park featuring educational and local interest offerings for visitors of all ages.