NASHUA, NH – Over the weekend, Nashua’s Community Development division in collaboration with Plan New Hampshire held a design charrette for the revitalization of the city’s Millyard District.
The city’s community development division submitted an application to Plan NH’s community design charrette program in February 2025, and met with Plan NH staff the following month to discuss their application and goals.
Community members had the opportunity to share their ideas during public brainstorm workshops on Friday, May 30.
During the public workshop, Plan NH asked residents three questions about the millyard: What do you see? What do you want to see? And, what else do we need to know? At the core of the feedback received was a vision centered around improved connectivity and community.
After touring the target area, designers, planners, engineers, and other volunteer professionals with Plan NH took that community input to develop design strategies and recommendations for the planning of the site, which they presented to the public the following day.
Feedback from the community included the need for more connectivity within the Millyard and to
Downtown, for both vehicles and pedestrians; wayfinding and more signage; increased safety with more lighting and well-maintained sidewalks and roads. Attendees also said they would like to see more of a “sense of place” that preservers Millyard history as well as more green spaces for recreation, including playgrounds, field, courts and kayaking on the river.
In addition, attendees said they’d like more community events in general, and specifically mentioned restaurants, farmers markets, food trucks, and shops.
The charrette was one of two held by Plan NH this year, with the other one being held in Manchester.
Below is the second-day presentation: