Greenfield had many new beginnings in 2025, with the re-opening of Greenfield State Park, new businesses in the village, new leadership in many town departments, and completion of Phase 1 of the the Meeting House restoration project.
In spring 2024, Greenfield State Park, which has the largest campground in the state park system as well as a popular beach, closed for the summer season to the state could complete several infrastructure projects.
The park re-opened to the public on June 15, 2025. Heavy rain in the spring delayed the opening, which had been tentatively planned for Memorial Day weekend.
In March 2023, the park sustained damage from a blizzard that dropped more than three feet of snow on the region in 24 hours. The heavy, wet snow brought down hundreds of trees in the park. Former State Parks spokesperson Sean Hamilton said at the time that the damage was “the most he had ever seen in a single park.”
Upgrades last year included moving the park’s network of electric and communication lines underground, improving water and sewer utilities, construction of a new RV dump station to accommodate additional recreational vehicles and a new toll booth at the park entrance.
The project was funded by roughly $1 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
Greg Keeler of New Hampshire State Parks said, “These upgrades will provide for Greenfield State Park’s success into the future.”
FlagLeaf Bakery and Blackfire Farm open store
In late June, Flag Leaf Bakery, formerly of Antrim, and Blackfire Farm, which farms land in Greenfield and Hancock, opened new retail space in the Greenfield Forge building, across from Delay’s Harvester Market.
Douglas and Elizabeth Higley, owners of Blackfire Farm, share the space with Melanie McCune and John Ellingwood of Flag Leaf Bakery.
The bakery is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The Blackfire Farm shop is open the same hours during the farming season, spring through mid-fall.
The shop opening had been delayed as the businesses waited for permits from the state.
Flag Leaf Bakery is known for its laminated pastries and artisan breads.
The Blackfire Farm shop will offer its own meat and produce as well as local and regional products from other small farms and producers.
Phase one of Meeting House renovations nears completion
The first phase of renovations to the Greenfield Meeting House, which were funded by a $1 million CDFA Community Center Grant, is almost finished.
The town of Greenfield and the Friends of the Greenfield Community Meetinghouse, with support from many Greenfield community organizations, partnered on the grant application, assisted by the Southwest Regional Planning Commission.
The Greenfield Select Board recently took a walk-through of the completed basement Community Room space. That room and kitchen had been closed because of water damage.
The renovations included the installation of an elevator, allowing accessibility to three levels, accessible restrooms, and more flexible access to the basement.
The Meeting House had not had any significant renovations since the 1970s.
The Friends group is planning a ribbon-cutting event as soon as the building is officially reopened.
Retirements and new faces in town offices
Most of Greenfield’s town departments saw changes in personnel this year. Longtime Police Chief Brian Giamarino retired in July, and Sgt. Frank Shea, a Greenfield native who began his career as an intern at the Greenfield Police Department in 2006, was sworn in as chief in October.
At Town Meeting in March, longtime Treasurer Katherine Heck was honored for 17 years of service to Greenfield. Heck also served as the town’s representative to the ConVal School Board for two terms. Curtis Hamilton was elected for a second term on the School Board in March.
The Fire Department also saw a changing of the guard when Chief Jeff LaChance retired and Captain Chazz Babb, who has been with the department since 2013, stepped into the position of chief. Before serving as an officer and captain for many years in Greenfield, Babb was a member of the Peterborough Fire Department’s Explorers, and he is also Greenfield’s postmaster.
In the Town Offices, Assistant Town Administrator Catherine Shaw retired after 29 years of service and Wendy Drouin was appointed her replacement. Louise Gryval stepped into Drouin’s shoes as the town’s tax collector.