Ossipee—July 8, 2025—Edwina Boose of Ossipee has received the Lakes Region Planning Commission Community Service Award after being nominated by the Town of Ossipee. The award was presented at the commission’s annual meeting on June 23 in Meredith.
According to Ossipee Town Administrator, Boose more than deserves the award, especially concerning her work in developing Constitution Park:
“In 1979, 100+ acres of woodlands and wetlands bordering Ossipee Lake was deeded to the town of Ossipee,” said the nomination letter to LRPC.
“In addition to the woodlands and wetlands, the park has ball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, a playground and a dog park. However, over the many years since installation, there has been little maintenance with minimal improvements to the park or any of its assets. The trails were largely overgrown brush and wooden signs deteriorated; most local citizens were not even aware of these previously fantastic trails.
“During COVID, retirees Edwina and Bob Boose enjoyed hiking with friends. The group started exploring the 2.2 miles of trails at Constitution Park. At that time, Edwina was chair of the Outdoor Spaces Group of the Mount Washington Valley Age-Friendly Community.
“Those hikes generated discussions about working on this diamond-in-the-rough with its all-ages hiking trails and making it sparkle. Calling upon her years of volunteering as a school board member in New Hampshire (where she became the president of the state School Board Association) and her training at the New Hampshire Leadership Program, she got to work.
“In 2021, an all-volunteer non-profit organization Friends of Constitution Park, Ossipee was founded by this passionate advocate and a love for her community and the outdoor. The group of motivated volunteers began extensive cleanup and maintenance efforts on the park beyond the means of the town government.
“They cleared the trails full of brush, constructed new signage, developed mapping, and installed an information kiosk. In the spring of 2022, with financial aid and in-kind support from citizens and local businesses, a nine-hole disc golf course was installed, and the community has embraced it gratefully.
“After completing the disc golf course, Edwina set her sights on the monumental task of rebuilding the elevated boardwalk on the Deer Run Trail, a scenic but dilapidated walkway through natural wetlands ending at historic Ossipee Lake. Over the course of two years, she won several grants while still giving her own manual labor to maintain and improve the park.
“This year, the town of Ossipee is pleased to have partnered with Edwina and FCPO, entering into a contract to rebuild the entire boardwalk and trail, with full ADA compliance so everyone can enjoy it.
“This would not have been possible without the immense and tenacious fundraising efforts of Edwina, her team and our community. Edwina and FCPO fostered relationships with the Town officials and staff, the Economic Council, Chamber of Commerce, AARP Age Friendly Community Organization, and many others to bring this community together and build something truly special.
“She is responsible for acquiring $83,000 in grants, raising $38,000 in private funds/donations, and coordinating 4,900 volunteer hours within the FCPO organization.
“In a time when apathy, divisiveness and self-obsession are so pervasive, it is an honor to look to leaders like Edwina for inspiration and appreciate them for the role models they are.”
I am honored and humbled to receive this award.
Serving as chair and founder of our nonprofit has been one of the most meaningful roles of my life. But this work isn’t done alone. I share this award with the dedicated volunteers, neighbors, and partners who roll up their sleeves and believe—like I do—that parks are more than land and trails. They are places where people connect, reflect, and grow together. And of course, I truly could not have done this work without the support and efforts of my husband Bob who has been by my side and had my back every step of the way.
There’s a quote by Coretta Scott King that speaks to why we do this work: “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
It’s that spirit of compassion and collaboration that makes what we do possible—and necessary. Community building is an act of hope, and I’m so proud to be a small part of it.
Particularly on this day, in this moment. We need to continue this work more than ever.
Outstanding article, especially the last paragraph!