The City of Manchester Parks, Recreation, and Cemetery Division would like to inform you that the Derryfield Park Tennis Courts will be closed for repairs and resurfacing beginning Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
PROJECT SCHEDULE
• Construction Start: June 3, 2026
• Estimated Completion: On or before June 24, 2026
• Duration: Approximately 3 weeks (weather permitting)
CLOSURE DETAILS
The courts will be completely closed for the duration of the project. Tennis play, pedestrian access, and foot traffic will not be permitted in the work area. Fencing and signage will be installed, and visitors are asked to respect all posted barriers.
Please note that project completion depends on weather conditions and proper curing time for surfacing materials. Any schedule changes will be communicated through City channels.
PUBLIC NOTICE TO VOTERS
Pursuant to N.H. RSA 654:27-a, the Board of Registrars shall hold session for the purpose of periodic checklist maintenance. The Board of Registrars for the City of Manchester will be in session at the Office of the City Clerk, One City Hall Plaza, on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 4:45 p.m. to take action on all requests to correct the checklist as provided in N.H. RSA 654:27-a.
Any voter who would like to register to vote is encouraged to complete a voter registration form at the Office of the City Clerk. Voters may register during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). Anyone who wishes to register to vote must present proof of age, identity, domicile, and citizenship at the time of registration. For additional information, please visit the City Clerk’s Office website at manchesternh.gov/elections or call (603) 624-6455.
Board of Registrars
s/Matthew Normand
City Clerk
As part of the Cemetery Brook Drain Tunnel Project, a portion of Somerville St. will be closed for a period of time. Detour routes will be as illustrated in the map below and as directed by signs on site.
- Somerville Street Closure begins: June 1, 2026
- Somerville Street Anticipated reopening: July 1, 2026
What to Expect:
- Somerville Street eastbound will be detoured via Shasta Steet.
- Somerville Street westbound will be detoured via Silver Street.
Important Notes:
- Please follow direction from posted traffic signs, police details, flaggers and allow extra travel time through the work zone.
- For lane shifts or temporary lane closures during construction, please be aware of new lane markings, barricaded routes, or traffic cones.
- Parking will be prohibited within the construction area.
- Drivers and pedestrians should use extreme caution when traveling past work zones, especially at night or in adverse weather, when visibility is limited.
- Whenever possible, we encourage drivers to plan ahead and avoid the construction area.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to enhance our community’s infrastructure.
Sincerely,
Environmental Protection Division
Department of Public Works
City of Manchester
As part of the Cemetery Brook Drain Tunnel Project, a portion of Union St. from Willow St. to Clay St., will be closed for a period of time. A detour via Willow Street and Beech Street will be signposted. Refer to the posted figure below.
- Union Closure begins: May 26, 2026
- Anticipated Union Reopening: June 12, 2026
What to Expect:
- Traffic will be detoured onto Willow and Silver Streets
- Both vehicular traffic lanes will be closed.
- Roadways will be reopened each night.
- Pedestrian access will be maintained on the southbound side.
- Local business and residential driveway access will be maintained and will be closely coordinated by the contractor.
Important Notes:
- Please follow posted detour signs and allow extra travel time. Refer to the detour figure provided below.
- Parking will be prohibited within the construction area
- Whenever possible, we encourage drivers to plan ahead and avoid the construction area.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to enhance our community’s infrastructure.
Sincerely,
Environmental Protection Division
Department of Public Works
City of Manchester
Community Construction Notice
Wolfe Park Softball Field & Amenities Renovation Project
The City of Manchester Parks, Recreation & Cemetery Division would like to inform residents and park users that construction activities for the Softball Field and Associated Amenities Renovation Project will begin this Saturday, May 16, 2026, and will continue through August 15, 2026.
All construction work will be contained entirely within the project footprint on the north side of Wolfe Park. The contractor will be mobilizing equipment and materials to that area, and fencing will be installed to secure the active construction zone.
What to Expect
- No traffic interruptions are anticipated during this project.
- All amenities on the south side of the park—including the basketball courts and the playground—will remain open and accessible.
- Park users are asked to remain outside the designated construction area for safety.
We appreciate the community’s patience as we complete these important upgrades to enhance the park’s facilities. If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact the Parks, Recreation & Cemetery Division at (603) 624-4444.
On Monday, May 18, 2026, the Manchester Water Works (MWW) will begin a planned six-week hydrant flushing program and chlorine conversion system-wide throughout our five-hundred (500) plus miles of water mains within the MWW water distribution system.
The flushing program will be conducted between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, in order to minimize inconvenience to customers. Mark Bourque, Deputy Director, Distribution indicates that this annual program is to help improve water quality. The flushing will begin at the Lake Shore Road Water Treatment Plant in east Manchester and progress westerly over the six-week period across the city and areas of the six surrounding towns which MWW serves. Heavy Commercial users will be notified prior to work being done in their immediate area and we request that residential customers with special needs, such as in-house dialysis equipment, call our Department to make their locations known so that they also may be notified in advance of flushing in their area.
Customers may experience a slight discoloration of water during flushing due to increased velocity and reversed flow of the water in the pipelines. MWW regrets that the program may inconvenience some customers, but flushing is a necessary function of the departments’ preventive maintenance program. If you experience discoloration of your water, run cold water from a bathtub or outside spigot for ten to fifteen minutes or until the water clears. If the problem persists, please call the number below.
With questions regarding the chlorine conversion please call (603) 792-2855: flushing program, (603) 792-2807.
Effective immediately, Ward 2 residents will be voting at Smyth Road School at 245 Bruce Road.
After hearing concerns from Ward 2 residents and election officials, the decision has been made to move Ward 2’s polling location from Hillside Middle School.
The City Clerk’s Office will be mailing postcards to all registered households, spreading the word via social and print media, displaying signage on Reservoir Drive/Bridge Street the week leading up to Election Day to remind voters of the change, and displaying signage at Hillside Middle School on Election Day to remind voters who are in the wrong location of the change.
If you are a Ward 2 voter, we would encourage you to help spread the word about this change in your community.
For any questions, please reach out to the City Clerk’s Office at (603) 624-6455 or elections@manchesternh.gov.
For more information about voter registration and elections in Manchester, visit manchesternh.gov/elections.
Upcoming Elections
State Primary Election: September 8, 2026
Polling Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
State General Election: November 3, 2026
Polling Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Last year, the New Hampshire legislature passed SB221 amending RSA 654:39, requiring that the voter rolls be verified annually. This verification requires that the City Clerk’s Office and the Board of Registrars review the voter checklist and send a notice to any voters who
- have not voted in any election in the past 5 years AND
- registered to vote prior to the 2024 State General Election.
Any voter who registered to vote after the 2024 State General Election but has not yet voted in an election will not receive a notice and will not be removed from the checklist as a part of the annual verification process.
On June 2, 2026 the Board of Registrars will meet to approve the list of voters who match the specifications and approve the mailing of notices to those voters. Following the approval of the list, postcards notifying voters who match the specifications will be mailed out. Voters who receive these notices, must come to the Office of the City Clerk during regular business hours on or before August 28, 2026 to reregister to vote and must present proof of identity and domicile at the time of reregistration. Voters who received a notice and do not reregister within that timeframe will be removed from the voter checklist.
All voters are encouraged to review their voter registration by using the Secretary of State’s Office’s Voter Information Lookup Tool.
For any questions, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (603) 624-6455 or at elections@manchesternh.gov.
Be a part of keeping the park clearner, greener, and more accessible! Join the Manchester Conservation Commission, staff from the Manchester Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Division of DPW, and the Friends of the Piscataquog River Park for this volunteer event.
Where: Piscataquog River Park – George W. Smith Entrance, 300 Precourt Street, Manchester, NH 03102
When: Sunday, April 26, 2026 - 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM
Clean-up and Site Prep: Lend a hand as we clear away litter and debris or help us prepare the ground for a future pollinator garden, to create a thriving habitat for local bees and butterlfies.
Trail Work: Spread fresh mulch to create clear, sturdy trails for everyone to enjoy. It's a great way to get moving while ensuring our park's natural beauty remains accessible and well-maintained for the whole community.
Lunch for Volunteers. As a thank you to our wonderful volunteers, coffee, snacks, and lunch will be provided.
Parking: Parking is available on site.
Accessibility: Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy footwear, have clothing appropriate to be outdoors for long periods of time. Volunteers will be working off trail and on uneven terrain. This event will happen rain or shine.
The event is free and open to the public, however registration is required. Please register online at this link: https://naturegroupie.org/experiences/2026-spring-clean-extravaganza
City of Manchester Announces Partnership with the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester to Strengthen Coordinated Response to Homelessness and Behavioral Health
Manchester, NH - The City of Manchester today announced an enhanced partnership with the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester (MHCGM) to strengthen the City’s response to homelessness, substance use disorder, and co-occurring mental health challenges.
This collaboration will establish a centralized, one stop service model designed to improve access to critical support services by bringing them under one roof. The initiative builds on existing resources and infrastructure to ensure individuals can more quickly and effectively connect with the care they neeThe project focuses on coordination rather than duplication of services, streamlining referrals and strengthening system alignment to better serve individuals during periods of crisis and transition.
The enhanced model will include various service providers, combined to ensure a full-time staff member will be collocated at the new Aged and Infirmed Shelter with accompanying Engagement Center, providing consistent, on-site support and improving real-time access to services such as care coordination, enrollment assistance, and housing resources.
This enhanced partnership is made possible through a grant provided by Granite United Way as part of the Opioid Abatement Community Grants Program (OACGP.) This funding comes from national opioid settlement agreements and supports community healing, recovery and prevention across New Hampshire. Granite United Way administers the OACGP on behalf of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission. This multi-year grant is implemented in partnership with the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.
Mayor Ruais Released the Following Statement:
“This systemic change is about building a system that works. When services like mental health, recovery support, housing and more, are coordinated and accessible, we can better support individuals in breaking the cycle of homelessness and moving toward stability. That is what we are building at the Aged and Infirmed Shelter. We are not creating new services, we are making our existing continuum work better, faster, and more efficiently for the people who need it most. This partnership represents an important step forward in how we address homelessness in Manchester. Homelessness should be rare, brief and one time, and this model moves us closer to that goal by removing barriers and meeting people where they are.”
The City and MHCGM emphasize that long term, systemic change requires stronger integration across service providers. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving outcomes through collaboration, efficiency, and accountability.
Patricia Carty, President and CEO at the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester Stated:
“This enhanced partnership reflects our shared commitment to meeting individuals where they are and ensuring they have timely access to the coordinated care they need. By aligning our services more closely with the City’s efforts, we can reduce barriers, respond more effectively in moments of crisis, and help individuals move toward stability, recovery, and long-term well-being.”
Nichole Martin Riemer, President and CEO of Granite United Way Stated:
“We are proud to be part of this collaborative work and remain committed to strengthening the health of our community. We have witnessed first-hand how working together can reduce barriers and ensure access to these critical services.”
The City is in the process of recruiting additional partners who are interested in co-locating staff at the Aged and Infirmed Shelter. If you are a community partner interested in this effort, please contact Daley Frenette in the Mayor’s Office at dfrenette@manchesternh.gov.
MANCHESTER, NH – Livability.com unveiled its 2026 Top 100 Best Places to Live list, with Manchester, NH deservedly earning a spot among the nation’s most vibrant and livable small to mid-sized cities for the fourth year in a row.
In its 13th year, the Livability annual ranking focuses on cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000 that offers big city opportunities while remaining small enough to feel like home. Per Livability, “In a time of shifting economic tides, Manchester’s inclusion underscores its commitment to maintaining a community where residents can truly thrive.”
"Our 'Top 100' is an annual data-driven collection of what we consider to be the best small to mid-size cities," says Amanda Ellis, Livability.com Editor-in-Chief. "As Americans face consistently evolving work dynamics and a desire for the best quality of life possible amidst inflation and uncertainty, our list celebrates places where people can more realistically build families, launch businesses and lead meaningful lives."
Livability.com works closely with Applied Geographic Solutions (AGS) when using data to construct the Top 100 list across four major city categories: Economy & Housing, Amenities & Environment, Safety, Health & Education, as well as Transportation.
New for this year, Livability.com placed more value on a city’s Housing and Cost of Living category, to highlight those cities excelling above their peers. Manchester excelled in not only housing and cost of living, but scored high marks in amenities and education. Furthermore, Manchester is the only city from New Hampshire on the Livability.com Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2026 list.
“Manchester is a city on the rise,” said Jodie Nazaka, Economic Development Director. “We’re seeing real momentum — new businesses are opening, people are choosing to put down roots here, and the energy in our neighborhoods is undeniable. The best is still ahead of us.”
This distinction comes on the heels of Livability.com also awarding Manchester as one of the Top 25 Best Places to Live in the Northeast in November 2025.