Background
Development on Hampton Beach began over a century ago to support public demand to be near and enjoy the waters of the New Hampshire coast.  In 1897 the Hampton Beach Improvement Company began to control the direction of development through a 99-year land lease.  As the beach became more popular with tourists and locals alike and with the advent of the automobile in the 1900’s, the HBIC and sources of revenue could no longer keep pace with the need to support the infrastructure and public facilities at Hampton Beach.

During the Great Depression, the State of New Hampshire stepped in to take financial control and turned the beach into a state park facility.  Even with the many improvements made to enhance the recreational opportunities and safety in the park during this time, the image of the Beach began to decline as the tourism market shifted from extended vacations to day trips.  The HBIC land lease expired in 1997 and the Town of Hampton and related authorities, including the state, are now stewards of the developed areas of the Beach through their decisions on land use, environmental regulations and local infrastructure.  
 

Future Planning
There continues to be a need for the Town and the State to coordinate policies and actions to create a more positive future for Hampton Beach.  The Division of Parks and Recreation has capital funding to do a feasibility study for the redevelopment of the public facilities at Hampton Beach State Park, most notably the Hampton Seashell complex.  The Hampton Beach Master Plan completed in 2001 outlines the benefits to redevelopment including revitalization of the public face of Hampton Beach and providing for similar enhancement in private and commercial property along the beach.  Part of the revitalization includes reducing the central congestion in the park by distributing use and public facilities along the entire beach, incorporating the under utilized north and south ends.