Parks Facilities

FY22 $100k annual CIP BI-02-PW-26: CITYWIDE PARK IMPROVEMENTS

Description: This project provides funding for the City’s parks. In recent years, investment in new parks and community discussions about existing park facilities (e.g. Sagamore Creek, Goodwin Park, Aldrich Park near Court Street, and Vaughan Mall) have highlighted the need to continue investing in park improvements. Funding will be used for improvements in furnishing and signage upgrades, drainage, walkway, landscaping and lighting.

FY22 $20k annual CIP BI-04-PW-28: CITYWIDE TREE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM

Description: The City of Portsmouth has been recognized as a Tree City USA for over twenty years. The City has a long tradition of caring for the urban forest. The City Arborist and the Trees and Public Greenery Committee administers this program. The program focuses on proactive plantings, managing street tree planting projects, inspecting, pruning or removing hazardous trees in the right-of-way, and provides information and resources to residents, homeowners and builders.

FY22 $2.925M ($1.05M from PPP) CIP BI-11-PW-29: PRESCOTT PARK FACILITIES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

Description: The City Council adopted the Prescott Park Master Plan in 2017. In addition to restructuring services and developing new park policies, the Master Plan calls for extensive park-wide reconfiguration. Renovation to the park presents opportunities to plan for climate adaptation, preserve invaluable antique historic structures, purposefully accommodate performance and event space, and ensure iconic Portsmouth places continue to serve the public now and in the future. The Master Plan is anticipated to be funded through fundraising and donations, grant support programs and other funding.

FY22 $25k (annual) CIP BI-05-PW-35: HISTORIC CEMETERY IMPROVEMENTS

Description: The City is responsible for maintaining the six historic cemeteries including Point of Graves Burial Ground, North Cemetery, Union Cemetery, Pleasant Street Burial Ground, the African Burying Ground, and Cotton Cemetery. In these cemeteries, the City is not only responsible for the upkeep of the grounds (regular mowing and landscaping), but also the headstones; hill, ledger, and chest tombs; cemetery walls and related structures. The City carried out an assessment of these valuable historic resources and created a prioritized list of restoration and repair projects which will be carried out over a multi-year period.