Located in southern New Hampshire less than twenty miles north of the Massachusetts border, the one-time small village of Scots-Irish immigrants has grown into a 34,000-resident suburb of Manchester, Concord, and most recently, Boston. The childhood home of astronaut Alan Shepard and temporary residence of Robert Frost and family, Derry harbors a rich history tied to the town’s natural resources. Early industries including flax cultivation and production of linen, followed by shoe manufacturing and commercial dairying. Derry’s rolling topography interspersed with brooks and ponds, supported these economic pursuits.

In an effort to retain a sense of history and protect natural resources while at the same time accommodating the needs of a growing population, Derry moved to update its comprehensive plan and hired a professional planning team to do so. Martha Lyon Landscape Architecture, LLC oversaw the historic, cultural, natural, open space, and recreation elements of the plan, inventorying existing conditions and developing strategies for managing the resources over time.