Recreational Activities List

Strafford County Complex

County Farm Crossroads, Dover, N.H.

Courtesy of Strafford County Commissioners

George Maglaras, Paul Dumont & Ron Chagnon

--Where the City Ends, and the County Begins--

ATV’s

The use of ATV’s is by permission of the County Commissioners only.

Agricultural Land Lease

The County leases several acres of land to a local farmer in order to keep the land open and agricultural. The fields are hayed two to three times a year, and several acres are planted with crops.

Betty Stowell Memorial Playground

Dedicated to long-time employee Betty Stowell, this playground is located adjacent to the William A. Grimes Strafford County Justice and Administration Building. Betty was a long-time advocate for children and youth and this playground serves as a testament to her dedication and loyalty to children. 

Bluebird Housing

The bluebird boxes are a product of Strafford County/UNH Cooperative Extension workshops with youth and adults to teach participants how to build birdhouses.   Over the years bluebird house kits were crafted by the staff at the Division of Forests and Lands, Urban Forestry Center in Portsmouth.   Volunteers have been responsible for the care and maintenance of the 44 birdhouses.   Some houses are occupied by bluebirds, while others house tree swallows.

Cathy Schiro-O’Brien Cross Country Running Trail

The Cathy Schiro-O’Brien Cross Country Running Trail is open for area high school cross-country teams to practice. The trail is approximately one mile long and is an extension of the Cocheco River Trail, running through the fields adjacent to the Rest Home.

Cocheco River Canoe Launch

Through a grant written by staff at the Natural Resources Conservation Service in collaboration with Strafford County/UNH Cooperative Extension for the Strafford County Commissioners, a canoe launch was installed at the County Farm, accessing the Cocheco River for canoes and kayaks.  Funds from the Department of Environmental Resources, along with contributing resources from the County provided a “one of its kind” canoe launch while protecting the riverbank.  Members from the UNH Cooperative Extension 4-H club, Strafford County Active Teens, also assisted in the installation.

Cocheco River Trail

The Cocheco River Trail is a self-guided nature trail that weaves along the Cocheco River, by the old Covered Bridge, goes past at the Alms House Monument, with the names of those who perished in a fire at there in 1891 etched on its panels and loops back to the Riverside Rest Home parking lot. It is a beautiful walk through the woods to take with your kids after a picnic by the river.

Conservation Easement

Over 219 acres of the 290 acres of County land are protected by a conservation easement with SPNHF, Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests, signed in 2002 by the Commissioners to protect the County lands from future development.

Hunting

Several years ago, a compromise was reached between hunters and non-hunters regarding hunting on County land. Since that time, hunting has been allowed on County property by permission only. Hunter identification cards are available through the Commissioners office, 259 County Farm Road, Dover, New Hampshire, 603.742.1458.

Osprey Nesting Platform

Project Osprey is a program designed to enhance the osprey population recovery and to promote greater public awareness of the importance of healthy ecosystems. The Project is an initiative of Public Service of New Hampshire, the Audubon Society and New Hampshire Fish and Game. With the assistance of students from the University of New Hampshire, through the direction of the UNH

  Cooperative Extension, and local businesses and organizations, an osprey platform was installed atop a 64-foot pine tree, located about a half mile behind the Strafford County jail. In May of 2004, ospreys were spotted in the area, and two weeks later, the birds were incubating eggs on the nest. One of the chicks was parented to maturity. The County farm site is the 10th nest site in the state created by people specifically for ospreys since Project Osprey’s partnership began in April 2000. There are now 33 nesting sites in New Hampshire.

Paul J. Dumont Youth Campground

Strafford County, in cooperation with the Strafford County/UNH Cooperative Extension office, and with the assistance of the Thomas/Dumont families and their friends, designed and developed the Paul J. Dumont Youth Campground on County property in Dover. This rustic campground and recreational facility is available to youth groups for teaching camping and outdoor skills, giving something back to the land, and HAVING FUN! If your youth group is looking for a place to go camping, check out these features:

·The campground sits serenely on the banks of the Cocheco River as it passes through the County forestland

·Designed to accommodate primitive camping for youth groups accompanied by adults 

·Easily accommodates up to fifty (50) campers.

·Natural amphitheater

·Accessible by canoe or flat-bottomed boat

jFree

jFor more information, call 742-1458.

Pop Warner Football League

In the Commissioners continuing efforts to provide diversion and recreational activities for the youth of the area, as well as a safe environment to play, signed a lease with Pop Warner Football League in 2002. The complex consists of several football fields for practice and games, on nearly 2 acres of land that have been leased from Strafford County directly adjacent to the Strafford County Courthouse. It has been said that these are the best fields in the state.

 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES AT THE

STRAFFORD COUNTY COMPLEX, CALL THE

STRAFFORD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OFFICE

 603.742.1458

603.743.4407 (fax)

Web Address: http://www.co.strafford.nh.us/

WILLIAM A. GRIMES STRAFFORD COUNTY

JUSTICE & ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

259 COUNTY FARM ROAD

DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03820