Keene’s Partnership with UNH Extension
The city of Keene is leveraging outdoor recreation as a cornerstone of its economic development strategy, supported by research, technical assistance, and facilitation from the University of New Hampshire Extension. With easy access to the Monadnock Region's trails, rivers, and natural landscapes, Keene has long been a hub for recreation and culture. UNH Extension has worked with city leaders, regional partners, and local businesses to frame outdoor recreation as a quality-of-life amenity and as an economic driver that attracts visitors, talent, and investment. Through planning workshops, business engagement, and data-driven analysis, Keene is aligning recreation with workforce and downtown development, showcasing how academic institutions can play a vital role in advancing community-based recreation economies. Specific outcomes of the UNH partnership include:
- Mountain biking study that UNH completed in the fall of 2023.
- New wayfinding signage installation (made possible by a donation from the Keene Rotary Club).
- A master plan update.
- Community workshops.
- And more!
The Problem
Like many small cities in New England, Keene has faced economic challenges tied to shifting industries, population dynamics, and the need to maintain a vibrant downtown. While the Monadnock Region is rich in outdoor recreation, from Mount Monadnock to the Cheshire Rail Trail, these assets were not fully connected to local businesses or incorporated into the city’s broader economic vision. Without intentional planning, Keene risked underutilizing recreation as an economic tool, leaving opportunities for downtown revitalization, workforce attraction, and business development on the table.
The Solution
UNH Extension partnered with the City of Keene and regional stakeholders to position outdoor recreation as an integral part of local economic development. This included convening workshops with business leaders and nonprofits, integrating outdoor recreation into municipal and regional planning processes, and providing technical assistance to connect rail trails and other recreation assets more directly to downtown Keene. By highlighting recreation’s role in attracting workforce talent, supporting small businesses, and enhancing the visitor economy, UNH Extension helped Keene build a shared framework for recreation-driven growth.
How They Did It
- Research and data analysis: Gathered and presented data on outdoor recreation participation, economic impacts, and regional trends to inform decision-making.
- Business and community engagement: Facilitated workshops and forums where business owners, nonprofits, and residents discussed how recreation could support downtown vitality and the local economy.
- Planning support: Integrated outdoor recreation priorities into local and regional planning documents, aligning with workforce, housing, and downtown development strategies.
- Trail-to-town connections: Advanced efforts to improve wayfinding, signage, and access from regional trail systems into downtown Keene.
- Capacity building: Provided training and resources for local leaders to champion recreation as part of their ongoing economic development work.
- Partnerships: Coordinated with local businesses, Monadnock Region nonprofits, and municipal leaders to expand capacity and shared vision.
The Goal
To position outdoor recreation as a central pillar of Keene’s economic development strategy through working with the university, strengthening downtown vitality, workforce recruitment, and regional competitiveness.
What Makes It Work
- University-community partnership: UNH Extension’s expertise, facilitation, and credibility created momentum and alignment among diverse stakeholders.
- Data-informed decisions: Research on economic impact and participation helped frame recreation as an economic driver rather than just an amenity.
- Business alignment: Direct engagement of local businesses ensured downtown and retail sectors benefited from recreation.
- Integrated planning: Recreation was tied to other key priorities, including workforce attraction and downtown revitalization.
- Strong local assets: Existing trails, parks, and outdoor resources provided a foundation to build upon.
The Bigger Message
Keene shows how outdoor recreation can be strategically framed and advanced as an economic development tool when paired with strong university-community partnerships. By engaging UNH Extension, the city connected its abundant outdoor resources with business and workforce strategies, ensuring recreation supports both quality of life and economic competitiveness. The case highlights how academic institutions can help communities translate natural assets into economic outcomes, offering a model for how research, facilitation, and partnership can transform outdoor recreation into a driver of local prosperity.