You’re invited to join the Chamber’s Downtown Committee for “Lunch in the Park” this summer.

To be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 20; Thursday, July 18; and Thursday, Aug. 15, in Veterans Park, “Lunch in the Park” is designed to increase the positive usage of, and the downtown business community’s connection to, Veterans Park.

Downtown employees, business owners, property owners, residents and other stakeholders are invited to take part in the “Lunch in the Park” program. Participants are encouraged to bring a sack lunch or to purchase a pre fixe box lunch from participating downtown restaurants. While the program itself will be largely unstructured, networking will be encouraged and live music will be provided. Additionally, a temporary “mural” or white board will be erected to encourage participants to share their ideas for the improvement of Veterans Park.

Improving Veterans Park, downtown Manchester’s largest and most prominent park, is a current focus of the Downtown Committee. The park, which faces an array of challenges, is often the first impression visitors get when they come to downtown Manchester. Located directly across the street from the Radisson Hotel and the Center of New Hampshire, Veterans Park is also home to the Manchester Visitor and Information Center and is adjacent to this city’s bus transportation hub.

The current challenges faced by Veterans Park damage the city’s reputation and threaten to undermine the otherwise successful revitalization of downtown Manchester. It is for these reasons the Downtown Committee is working with the City of Manchester Parks and Recreation Division to revitalize this downtown anchor.