The city’s first new park since 1988 is nearing the end of construction and will make a soft debut this fall. 

The Canal Street Riverfront Park project is part of the revitalization of Penacook Village and is transforming the 2.5 acres that once housed the Allied Leather Tannery Complex into a walking park with benches, a small amphitheater, public art overlooking the Contoocook River. 

“The goal is to get people out here for some fresh air to enjoy the views of the river,” Beth Fenstermacher, director of special projects and strategic initiatives, said in a recent video released by the city.

The park will add an outdoor community space to Penacook’s downtown area, one that could host concerts and outdoor markets as well as birding and fishing.

Construction began this spring, and with grading, drainage and other underground work wrapping up, crews are now diving into work that will give the park its new face, preparing to pave walkways and plant native plants that will attract wildlife. A soft opening is slated for this fall with a grand opening next spring. 

Penacook residents had long visioned that the former tannery could be transformed into something that would breathe new life into the village — they asked for it to become a riverfront park in listening sessions back in 2004. The city looked at several different options for the site, but over the last few years a total of $3.4 million was put toward realizing the vision for a new park. 

It will complement new housing going on line at Penacook Landing, a near-decade-long project by the city redeveloping the old tannery and Brownfield site into affordable housing.

Catherine McLaughlin can be reached at cmclaughlin@cmonitor.com