I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.

– John Muir

A community comes together…

To best commemorate Betsy and honor her passion for leading an active, balanced, and healthy lifestyle, her family, friends, and generous donors came together to purchase a 1940s-era motel property on White Oak Pond and create Betsy’s Park, a low-impact community green space.

Betsy’s Park is now open and offers the Squam community well-planned natural spaces for both robust outdoor play and calm inward reflection. Park landscaping enhances the site’s natural features and includes road-buffering berms and indigenous plantings. Park goers will enjoy a playground, beachside meditation area, a memorial sculpture, natural rock reflection area with a flowing water feature, fire pit, walking trails through the eight-acre site and two pickle ball courts. In the winter, Betsy’s Park will offer sledding, ice skating, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Still to come will be an athletic circuit around the property, a pavilion with picnic area, a grilling area, a lodge/warming hut with bathrooms, garage, a new kitchen , bathroom and warming area in long motel building for interns use during their season, pickle players and paddle tennis players, fruit bushes and trees, completion of a paddle tennis court, easier accessibility down to the water’s edge play area and beach. Wow!! That’s a lot! This means there is still lots of need for donations. Visit our “Donate Page” to participate.

The quaint motel cabins and building have been housing Americorps members helping the Squam Lakes Association with jobs including water quality monitoring, milfoil removal, trail maintenance, running special programs. camping maintenance, ramp monitoring and many other jobs. The main house on the property has been converted to a residence for a caretaker, who will both help maintain the park and keep a watchful eye on the property to ensure that it is enjoyed as intended. We have security cameras installed throughout the property to assist. Wifi password is BOLA!park88

We ask that you don’t post about Betsy’s Park on social media. We would like to keep it from getting over-run. Email comments, questions, ideas and good times you have to betsysparknh@gmail.com and we will respond and post them on our “What’s New” page.

Please go to our Donate page to see how you can help and our Volunteer page to get involved!

Betsy’s Park Foundation Mission

Betsy’s Park a joyful place where watershed community members of all ages can enjoy play, exercise and quiet reflection in healthy natural surroundings.