Construction begins in July on Mill City Park at Franklin Falls, billed as the first whitewater park in New England. The park plans to open in September. “There’s 300 whitewater parks across the country and there’s not one here,” said Marty Parichand, founder of Mill City Park. “It’ll totally change the game for Franklin and it will do so with free outdoor recreation.” The free park, funded by $2.5 million in grant money and private donations, will offer kayaking, boogie boarding, whitewater rafting, and surfing on Winnipesaukee River year-round, as well as walking and biking trails, camping, water play areas for kids, and an amphitheater. The park will attract about 162,000 visitors who will spend about $7 million annually in the region, Parichand said.