The property that is now Adams Field was bequeathed to the Town in 1991 by Hazel Adams Burns. In 1996, Adams Field was graded and seeded to accommodate field sports and a parking area was constructed. Currently, the park is utilized primarily as a sports field accommodating soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and football. And adjacent to the property is Osgood Pond which has a fishing dock and canoe launch.

Osgood Pond was first constructed by Colonel Josiah Osgood, whose name was then used for Osgood pond and the surrounding district. Circa 1787 a saw mill was built and operating on Osgood Brook. By the time Colonel Osgood finished the pond; it spanned 20 acres and became the largest pond in Milford, NH. At one point, blocks of ice were cut from the pond and sold. The remains of that ice house can still be seen from the roadside today.

Park Features

The parcels of land that today make up Emerson Park, were donated to the Town in 1947. The Park as it exists currently is the result of many years of dedicated volunteer efforts in partnership with the Town and provides a location adjacent to the River close to the Oval for passive recreation and viewing the River. The Park is the site of the widely attended annual summer concert series supported by the Town and the Recreation Department and Commission and its central location and beauty provides additional community “green space” to the downtown area.

In the mid-1990s the Recreation Commission saw the site as a prime location to construct a new recreation facility due to its central location and topography. The owners of the parcel, Harry Whelan and James Stellos, agreed to sell the property to the Town for $150,000 and in 1995 the Town approved $76,000 as the Town’s share of the acquisition. The balance of $74,000 was provided by a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant; and cash contributions from the Milford Conservation Commission, Milford Rotary Club, the Milford-Bennington Railroad, the Veterans of Foreign Wars - Post 4368, and the Kaley Foundation. The Kaley Foundation also pledged an additional $33,000 over the course of 1996 and 1997 to offset and reduce the Town’s appropriation to a final $43,000.

Park Features

Keyes Memorial Park was originally farmland owned by members of the Crosby family. In 1952 following the death of Annabell Crosby-Secombe, the property was willed to a longtime employee, Henry Laxon. Laxon sold the property in 1957 to the Arthur L. Keyes Memorial Trust, which then gave the land to the School District for athletic fields and a playground. Nine years later in 1964, the School District exchanged the Keyes site for the Town-owned Endicott Park property which abutted Bales School. Keyes Memorial Park development began with the construction of a public swimming pool facility in 1965.  By 1974, four tennis courts had been constructed, with two of the courts being gifts from the Rotch family in memory of Malcom Rotch. Today, Keyes Memorial Park remains the primary community recreation park for the Town and is anticipated to continue this function for the foreseeable future. 

The land now today called Shephard Park was donated to the Town of Milford in 1898 as a site for a school and playground. The next year, in 1899 an additional piece of land adjacent to the original parcel was donated by Andrew Shephard. The park was named, at the donor’s request after his great grandfather, John Shephard, who in 1791 built Milford’s first sawmill and gristmill. In 1915 the first ball field was constructed, followed by a softball diamond in 1950.  Today, Shepard Park consists of a 60’ baseball field which was built by the Rotary and dedicated as the Hugo Trentini Memorial Park in June, 1961, a baseball practice field, and a playground. The park is also home of the Boy Scout house in the old school building. The Boy Scout house, is managed by the American Legion for use by the Boy Scouts of America and Cub Scouts of Troop 4.

Residents, groups and organizations must schedule and obtain a permit in advance to reserve the facilities for any organized activity. Reservations are taken on a first come, first serve basis and it is highly recommended to call a minimum of 4 days prior, by contacting the Milford Recreation Department at 249-0625. Major events may need approvals through the Town Special Events Policy.

Just download the field registration form below and return to the Rec office.

Questions? Please call 603-249-0625