Prescott Park: Portsmouth's Waterfront Jewel

Prescott Park, a ten-plus acre waterfront park in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is a testament to community spirit and urban renewal. The park's origins trace back to the 1930s when sisters Josie and Mary Prescott, both public school teachers, used an inheritance to purchase and clear properties along the Piscataqua River. Their vision was to transform a run-down industrial area into a public waterfront park, free and accessible to all. The park was willed to the city of Portsmouth in 1954. Today, Prescott Park features flower gardens, walking paths, and open spaces. The park hosts the Prescott Park Arts Festival, which includes outdoor productions of Broadway plays and other performances during the summer months. The park also contains two old warehouses, including the 1705 Sheafe Warehouse. Visitors can explore various individual garden spaces, from formal plantings around the waterfront anchor and Cabot Lyford's "Whale" sculpture to hostas along the Mechanic Street edge. The Liberty Gardens feature annuals designed and installed by city staff, attracting butterflies and other pollinators. Garden tours are offered seasonally. The park also features a marina and fishing pier. The Portsmouth Love Wall, located on the waterside of the parking lot, displays love locks symbolizing undying love.