Nordic Ski Park

The Nordic Ski Park, situated on 68 acres of Newton Hill at Elm Park,
is maintained by volunteers from Park Spirit and Friends of Newton Hill.

TRAIL CONDITIONS

January 18, 2025

Trails Are Closed

Name: Newton Hill Earth Day Clean-up
Start: 2025-04-26
End: 2025-04-26
Location: Newton Hill Storage Building

The ski trails are currently closed for the season. Check back soon for updates on the 2025-26 season!

The Nordic Ski Park was established in 2018 through the tremendous work of Park Spirit Vice President Phil Bolduc designing the course and writing and receiving a Recreational Trails Grant through the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) for trail grooming equipment and signage. Trail upkeep and grooming is ALL done by Park Spirit and FNH volunteers to provide a unique wintertime recreational opportunity for Nordic Skiing, snowshoeing and even fat tire mountain biking.

The Elm Park-Newton Hill Nordic Ski Park will include beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain, supporting both classic and skate skiing as well as snowshoeing and fat tire mountain biking.

The Ski Park provides a novel, exciting, and free wintertime recreational resource in a beautiful, historic public space located in the heart of Worcester. It is the only groomed, public-access cross-country ski track in Central Massachusetts, promoting healthy, safe, outdoor physical activity in a city with limited options for free, outdoor winter activities and an obesity rate 63% higher than the state average.

The Ski Park addresses the first priority of the Worcester Community Health Improvement Plan, namely to, “create an environment and community that supports people’s ability to make healthy eating and active living choices that promote health and well-being.” It expands upon the theme of free, public green space exercise opportunities provided by the Newton Hill Fitness Course, designed and installed by FNH in 2015.

DCR grant funds will be used to purchase cross-country ski grooming equipment and signage, while trail maintenance and grooming will be provided by volunteers. The Recreational Trails Grant will help the Ski Park come into existence by covering initial operating expenses, while future expenses will rely on user donations.