Tilton Park represents a unique and unspoiled outdoor recreation area in the Town of Sunapee, New Hampshire. Tilton Park is a Town of Sunapee owned piece of land that was donated to the Town of Sunapee by Harry Tilton. Specifically Harry Albert Tilton’s 1958 will states: “To the Town of Sunapee, New Hampshire, I give and bequeath the fourteen or fifteen acres of land located in said town owned by me, the same to be used only for recreational purposes.” In 1973 a grant from the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development was acquired to purchase an additional 10 acres of land as an addition to Tilton Park. This land acquisition was the completion of all the land involved in the old ski tow which was how the land is also known. In the 1980’s the Property was pursued as a site for the new town offices, and in the early 2000’s it was pursued as the proposed site for the library. Because of the town’s persistence in using the Property for recreation purposes neither of those buildings was built. In 2008, the recreation committee hired a landscape recreation architect to develop a master plan to be used in developing this location into further recreation activities.
Tilton Park is now open to the public complete with Nona Playground, a 9-hole frisbee golf course, picnic area, outhouse, and a pump track.
Other things to do at Tilton Park:
1) If you are an outdoor enthusiast, come visit the trails that have been cleared. These trails link up with the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway – a 75-mile emerald necklace of hiking trails, surrounding Lake Sunapee, crossing Sunapee, Ragged, and Kearsarge Mountains. For more information, click here.
2) Sledding, Skiing, Snowboarding, and more! We have had the pleasure of “cutting some sweet fresh tracks” with our sleds and snowboards this winter as the Lake Sunapee region has seen at least a few powder weekends this year. The Town even groomed a few tracks! Tilton Park is a great local hill that has a moderately steep, wide open, and rolling downhill terrain, is safe from hazards, and is a lovely place to spend time outdoors. ”Ski Tow Hill” epitomizes a quaint New England town hill surrounded by woods.
3) In warmer months there is a picnic area on the site for those of you who want to come enjoy the fresh mountain air and beautiful natural setting of Lake Sunapee’s surrounding open spaces.
Click here to view a conceptual plan of Tilton Park.
Click here for a MapQuest satellite view of Tilton Park and the surrounding area.
Click here for an aerial view of Tilton Park.
Family members of Lynne R. Peirce, who passed away in 2008, are delighted to be involved in the development of Tilton Park as a place for residents and visitors alike to gather, relax, play, exercise, garden, picnic, and learn. The Peirce family is excited and honored that the Lynne Peirce Memorial Playground, or “Nona Playground”, has been included in the master plan and looks forward to the playground serving as one of the features that will draw families to Tilton Park.
