Prescott Park Master Plan

Project Overview

In January 2017, the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committee for a Prescott Park Master Plan, working with Weston & Sampson Design Studio, presented to the Portsmouth City Council, “A Plan for Prescott Park.” This Plan was the culmination of a year-long process of studying the history of the Park, examining its structures and natural features and, of greatest import, discerning its importance to the citizens of Portsmouth and surrounding communities and their vision for its future, through a robust program of public engagement. The end result was a comprehensive plan for the re-design of Prescott Park to ensure that it will continue to serve as a central gathering place for the community for the balance of this century.

The Master Plan included preliminary projections of probable costs to implement to Plan and recommended that the Plan be developed in five phases over a period of time as financial resources allow. The Plan also recognized that further environmental and engineering studies were required before final designs could be adopted and construction begun. The Master Plan was unanimously approved by the City Council on February 6, 2017.

Project Map

Project Updates

Phase 1A Plan July 2022

The City Council voted on July 11, 2022 to approve the recommendation of the Prescott Park Master Plan Implementation Committee to move forward with the following Phase 1A work:

1. Remove asphalt pavement on Water Street.

2. Trench and install new sewer, water, gas, and storm water infrastructure under Water Street. Connect stormwater through to the Piscataqua and make it operational.

3. Demolish the “Garage” and “Lean-To” structures back fill the existing foundations and relocate their functions to the Lacava Wharf Barn. This will allow for an area to house trailers for PPAF in the event that Shaw is not available for occupancy.

4. Lift and relocate the Shaw building onto its new foundation. Excavate for and place new foundations for the Shaw building.

5. A long sloping lawn (approx. +3’ high will exist along the entire length of the Phase 1A work line, to accommodate the new grade change, and until the remaining phases are implemented.

6. Backfill Water Street to a new elevation matching the grade at Liberty Park.

7. Resurface Water Street and install final landscaping surfaces within the limit of work and “feather” them into existing surfaces that are remaining for future phases

Ground Site Testing on November 8, 2021

The City of Portsmouth Department of Public Works completed four five-foot, by five-foot, by five-foot “test pits” at Prescott Park on Monday, November 8, 2021, as part of the investigatory engineering required to implement the Prescott Park Master Plan. The work will be conducted in conjunction with a soils scientist designated by the project consultant Weston and Sampson Engineers and an archaeologist. For the results of those tests, see the documents in the sidebar at right.

Since the completion of the Prescott Park Master Plan and the Prescott Park Policy Advisory Committee, the City has engaged Weston & Sampson to assist it with the enabling engineering to begin implementation of the Plan. This work is funded via Capital Improvement Program. A topographical survey of the Park, along with a survey of the underground utilities and an assessment of the historic buildings has been completed In addition, the consultants have completed tidal inundation study to establish resiliency goals for the upgraded park.

On May 4, 2020, Mayor Becksted appointed a Blue Ribbon Committee to oversee this work and recommend future phasing and design details for City Council consideration.

An informational meeting on the Proposed Phase 1 Implementation was held on September 15th.

The final virtual public meeting took place on October 29th at 6:30 to review what the first Phase of Master Plan Implementation may entail.

The Committee presented its proposed Phase 1 Implementation Plan to the Historic District Commission on December 9th in work session<.