I created a new POTA park and activated it.
Many of us long for the days when many parks had not been activated-- ever, by anyone— and some of us wish we could have our names listed as the first person to activate a park. It wasn’t that long ago.
By Ted (W1TED)
My story about how this week, I got a new POTA park created, and then activated it. I thought the people here might be interested.
Many of us long for the days when many parks had not been activated-- ever, by anyone— and some of us wish we could have our names listed as the first person to activate a park. It wasn’t that long ago. But today, all the parks in New England have been activated at least once, except for one or two on remote islands with limited access that require special permission to land and operate.
Although I was always keeping an eye out for a new POTA-eligible park opening from the government to add to the system, I had pretty much given up on ever being the first person to activate a park. My POTA activities have focused mainly on a single park in Massachusetts, but I have been thinking about doing a small rove and which nearby parks might be fun to activate. I looked at the map on the POTA website for my favorite park, then started panning it to see what might be nearby.
I found a few Wildlife Management Areas and some State Forests, all with the familiar yellow dot indicating a valid POTA entity. But I stumbled across a State Forest with NO YELLOW DOT. I thought something must be wrong. Did the POTA site not load properly? Is the map showing an old State Forest that no longer exists?
Typing the name of the State Forest into the POTA website search turned up nothing. I did some online searching to see what I could find out. I saw some recent news from the town in which the State Forest sits that mentions the State Forest. I confirmed through online property records that the land is currently owned by the Massachusetts DCR, the department responsible for State Forests. It also appeared that this has been a State Forest since 1981. The DCR website, however, did not list this park’s name in its website.
Armed with this incomplete and somewhat conflicting information, I decided to reach out through the DCR website’s contact email. I asked about the State Forest by name and town, and if it was still an active State Forest managed by DCR. I received a friendly response within an hour. YES, it is an active State Forest managed by the DCR, and they promised to look into getting their website updated to include this State Forest.
Convinced that I had found a legitimate park that should have been a POTA entity, but was somehow missed, I reached out to the POTA mapping representative for Massachusetts, Pete Knapp, KN8PPY. I provided him with most of the evidence I had found, including the confirmatory email from DCR..
Within a day, he responded that the park, the J. Harry Rich State Forest had been added to the POTA program as US-12781. That was on Tuesday, and I just happened to have the next day off! I just hoped that no one would activate it before me. Wednesday morning, I had a great breakfast with other GSARA members and drove immediately to the park to be the first to activate it.
It is possible to set up in the park, where you can activate as a two-fer with US-8396, the Nashua River Rail Trail State Trail, which I did. That was also my first successful two-fer activation!
(Side note: a kind of cool part of activating was that one of the 126 contacts was Pete, KN8PPY, the POTA mapping coordinator, who added the park to the POTA system the day before.)
October Support Your Parks Weekend at Clough State Park
This October, Coulgh State Park hosted another memorable chapter in the annual Support Your Parks weekend. The 2025 Fall Support Your Parks POTA Meetup was a great success, and it was a joy to see the park come alive with fellow hobbyists and nature lovers alike.
This October, Clough State Park hosted another memorable chapter in the annual Support Your Parks weekend. The 2025 Fall Support Your Parks POTA Meetup was a great success, and it was a joy to see the park come alive with fellow hobbyists and nature lovers alike.
We ten folks attended, gear in hand, ready to enjoy the day and connect with the outdoors. The weather cooperated with a perfect fall day—clear skies and a sun that felt just right for an outdoor event. It truly felt like a gift from the season, with no cloud in the sky.
The activity was as varied as the season itself. The bands were alive with the sounds of CW, Voice, and a few Digital signals, turning the day into a friendly, technical celebration. It was exciting to hear the different modes and to trade tips, tricks, and stories with other participants.
A lot of attendees brought out their gear for the first time, taking the chance to run it through its paces in the field. There’s something special about testing equipment in a natural setting—the hum of the radios, the rustle of leaves, and the shared camaraderie create a memorable experience.
With gratitude to everyone who attended and contributed, the October Support Your Parks weekend at Coulgh State Park proved once again that this community thrives on curiosity, cooperation, and a love for both the outdoors and the hobby. Here’s hoping for many more weekends like this one in the years to come.
A Fun and Fulfilling Parks on the Air Activation with GSARA
This past weekend, our Granite State Amateur Radio Association (GSARA) had the pleasure of hosting a Parks on the Air (POTA) activation—a special event that turned out to be a true testament to the spirit of amateur radio, despite some pretty challenging band conditions!
This past weekend, our Granite State Amateur Radio Association (GSARA) had the pleasure of hosting a Parks on the Air (POTA) activation—a special event that turned out to be a true testament to the spirit of amateur radio, despite some pretty challenging band conditions!
The day started off on a high note, with the rain holding off until about 12:30 PM. By then, most of our club members had already begun packing up, mainly because the bands were just not cooperating. It was a tough day for making contacts—conditions were quite horrible, to say the least—but that didn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm or the overall vibe of the event.
In fact, the challenges only highlighted the resilience and camaraderie of our club members. We took the opportunity to support POTA during a special weekend, known as SYP (Support Your Parks), and to enjoy some much-needed social time with fellow amateurs—both those we’ve known for a while and some new faces we were excited to meet for the first time. It was wonderful to see everyone sharing stories, asking questions, and exchanging tips—all in the spirit of ham radio.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the day was working with our newer GSARA members. Several of these newcomers had never activated a park before, and they spent over an hour walking from station to station, soaking in the experience, asking questions, and engaging socially. Seeing their enthusiasm and curiosity reminded us all of why we love this hobby so much—there’s always something new to learn and new friends to make.
Despite the rain and less-than-ideal band conditions, the day was a true success in my eyes. It was a fantastic opportunity to give back to the club and the hobby I love most. Moments like these reinforce the value of community, learning, and sharing the magic of amateur radio.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated, helped out, and made this event special. We’re looking forward to many more activations, new faces, and good times on the airwaves. Here’s to supporting POTA and growing our club’s community—see you on the bands!
Parks, People, and POTA: A Day to Remember with the Granite State Amateur Radio Association
The Granite State Amateur Radio Association (GSARA) recently hosted an unforgettable Parks on the Air (POTA) Meetup, and the airwaves were abuzz with excitement. With 26 members in attendance, the event was not just a gathering; it was a celebration of the spirit that amateur radio embodies - camaraderie, exploration, and the thrill of communication. Set against the serene backdrop of one of our local parks, we unfolded our antennas, tuned our transceivers, and set out to make waves, quite literally! Here's a recap of the fun we had and the memories we created.
The Granite State Amateur Radio Association (GSARA) recently hosted an unforgettable Parks on the Air (POTA) Meetup, and the airwaves were abuzz with excitement. With 26 members in attendance, the event was not just a gathering; it was a celebration of the spirit that amateur radio embodies - camaraderie, exploration, and the thrill of communication. Set against the serene backdrop of one of our local parks, we unfolded our antennas, tuned our transceivers, and set out to make waves, quite literally! Here's a recap of our fun and the memories we created.
As the day progressed, the park was alive with the sounds of Morse code (CW), the clarity of voice communications, and the digital pings of Winlink. The rhythmic tapping of CW, the enthusiastic calls of CQ, and the digital tones of packet radio painted a picture of diversity in operation modes that our club members thoroughly enjoyed.
The excitement was particularly palpable among several of our members who, for the first time, activated a park. Their calls were met with responses from across the country, marking their inaugural foray into the POTA program with success. The sense of accomplishment and the smiles on their faces were a testament to the joy that amateur radio brings.
Between making contacts, our event became a treasure trove of shared knowledge. The park turned into an open-air classroom where experienced operators and newcomers alike exchanged a wealth of ideas about gear setups, go-boxes, and antenna configurations. From the simplest of wire antennas to the more sophisticated directional beams, there was much to learn and admire. The hands-on experience provided invaluable lessons that manuals alone could never convey.
More than just an opportunity to log contacts, our POTA Meetup was a chance to strengthen the bonds within our community. Old friends caught up, new friendships were formed, and stories from the ether were shared. Laughter and good-natured banter complemented the crackle of radio static, creating a warm atmosphere of fellowship.
As the day came to a close and our last QSOs were logged, it was clear that our POTA Meetup with the Granite State Amateur Radio Association was a resounding success. We not only celebrated the joy of amateur radio but also embraced the beauty of nature and the strength of our community.
The good news is, this isn't a one-time event. We are thrilled to announce that we will be holding a fall event for our next POTA Meetup. The anticipation is already building for another day of outdoor radio fun, and we encourage both seasoned hams and those new to the hobby to join us. Keep an eye on our club's announcements for the date and location. Until then, 73, and keep the frequencies alive with the spirit of POTA!
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