Stratham Hill Park (SHP)

Information collected with the EcoCounter at the Jack Rabbitt parking lot, can be found by clicking here:

JACK RABBIT LANE PARKING LOT - RESTRICTED TO RESIDENTS ONLY and those vehicles displaying either a handicap or veteran status designation are also exempt from the parking restrictions at Jack Rabbit parking lot. 

All Stratham Residents are required to display a resident sticker on their front windshield, passenger side. Stickers can be purchased at the Town Clerk office.

Click here for the full ordinance

How did this new ordinance come to be? 

At its June 20th,  2022 meeting, following a recommendation from the Trail Management Advisory Committee (TMAC), the Select Board has authorized a temporary change to the parking regulations at the Jack Rabbit Lane parking area as a pilot. From the pilot program, the TMAC and the Select Board in agreement with the Conservation Commission and Stratham Hill Park Association, felt a permanent and enforceable ordinance had to be created. The Select Board held a public hearing on the ordinance at their April 3rd, 2023 meeting. The ordinance was adopted on April 4th, 2023.

This recommendation from (TMAC) is an attempt to address two challenges identified over the course of the year long process the Committee carried out.  First, the Jack Rabbit lot experiences a significant amount of traffic, especially on weekend days.  Second, the Committee is seeking to improve adherence to regulations pertaining to dogs.  At Jack Rabbit unleashed dogs are often permitted to run freely from their owners cars into the unleashed area; we are trying to cut down on this activity and encourage dogs to be leashed in the main parking lot where additional signage about this requirement will be placed.


Trail Access at Stratham Hill Park 

The primary access to the trail system is found at 270 Portsmouth Avenue, main entrance of the park with ample parking. The 2nd access point and parking location is off Jack Rabbit Lane just south of the main entrance. Additional access points with limited parking can be found further south on Portsmouth Avenue, western edge of the trail network where Crockett Farm Trail head is located. Stratham Memorial School is at the eastern edge and is another point with good parking (outside of school hours).

  • No Hunting in Town Forest or the Town Park.
  • Respect the rights of private owners.
  • Please stay on marked trails.
  • Dogs must be under voice control or leashed in Town Forest.
  • Dogs must be on leash within and upon the parking lot, playing fields or lawns of Stratham Hill Park.
  • Please clean up after your dog.
  • Carry in, carry out park. Leave no trace.
  • Please be courteous to residents near trail access points: park within designated parking areas

Pavilion Rentals at Stratham Hill Park (Pavilion availability/rentals for May – October will be open in February each year)

Things to know about the park