The Nantucket Land Bank is delighted to restore Mill Hill Park’s natural beauty and update its amenities for public use across this 19.25-acre open space, treasured by the community since 1912.
History
Mill Hill Park has been preserved as public open space since 1912. It was first maintained by the Nantucket Civic League, a volunteer group of 24 neighborhood associations, who held and managed the property for over 50 years before gifting it to the Town of Nantucket.
The Town maintained Mill Hill Park until 2024, when it transferred the 19.25-acre property to the Land Bank in exchange for the Nobadeer Soccer Fields and additional smaller parcels. Since then, the Nantucket Land Bank has been observing how the park is used while planning restoration work and improvements.
Invasive Plant Removal
Like many properties on Nantucket, Mill Hill Park has been impacted by invasive plants, non-native species that establish within local ecosystems and out-compete native plants for space and resources, without the natural checks that exist in their native habitats.
The Land Bank’s field crew has been monitoring and managing invasive plants at Mill Hill as part of a broader property plan. We will be expanding this effort at the park to improve ecological conditions and make room for native species to flourish. Removal will be incremental and management will occur each growing season.
Parking Improvements
We will also be upgrading the parking area. The road will be graded, the lot expanded, and the vegetation between the parking area and Prospect Street trimmed and pruned.
New Trails & Fitness Equipment
Mill Hill Park is especially valuable thanks to its proximity to downtown, the surrounding neighborhoods of full-time and seasonal residents, and the two bus lines that serve it, making it one of the most accessible green spaces on the island.
After speaking with residents and assessing the park’s potential, we will be expanding the trail network and bringing back the outdoor fitness equipment that the community has been missing. The updated trail system will emphasize walking loops and broader access throughout the property.
Foraging Trail
Many residents remember Mill Hill as a wonderful foraging spot. We plan to enhance access to existing forage species in the northeast corner of the park, including beach plum, highbush blueberry, and crabapple and intend to supplement them with additional plantings: lowbush blueberry, huckleberry, fox grape, hawthorn, black cherry, and common blackberry.
This variety ensures that at least one species is fruiting throughout the growing season, with foraging opportunities available consistently from June through September. Signage along the new foraging trail will help visitors identify plants, learn how to use foraged food, and discover other places on the island where these species can be found.
Active Exercise Loop
Following the trail expansion, an active exercise loop will be designed and installed to promote the health of the Nantucket community. Many residents voiced their hope to bring this form of outdoor recreation back to Mill Hill, and the Land Bank Commission is delighted to make it happen.
Timeline & Contact
Our field crew has already begun trail work at Mill Hill, and we look forward to maintaining and improving this property for public use in the years to come. Questions or concerns about this project? Contact the Nantucket Land Bank at 508-228-7240, send us an email at administrator@nantucketlandbank.org or stop by 22 Broad Street.