Prescott Park, New Hampshire, United States
4.5 (706 reviews) Spent Ranking #5 in Portsmouth Parks • Gardens
Historic and spectacular.
I don't know how anyone can be lackadaisical about this park. It's right on the waterfront and has fantastic views. There's an enclosed formal garden with brick walks, fountains, and beautiful trees as well as a nearby large public garden. There are several monuments and a few historic buildings. There's plenty of seating and shade, cool breezes, beautiful landscaping. It's an arts venue in the summer months with live music performances and plays. You can walk to it from downtown. You can board the gundalow from it for an afternoon or sunset harbor sail. It's beautiful any time of year, even in winter.
Address
105 Marcy St next to Portsmouth Harbor, Portsmouth, NH 03801-4616
Mobile
Website
http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/prescottpark/index.htm
Current local date and time now
Sunday, May 05, 2024, 3:00
User Ratings
4.5 based on (706 reviews)
Reviews
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5David M 5:00 PM Sep 22, 2021
Beautiful Park
This park is small but really pretty. We spent a total of 15 minutes there on our way from Portland to Boston, but we're glad we stopped (even though it was raining). Strawberry Banke Museum is right next to it, so you can easily combine those activities if you have more time than we did.
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5JimBaumer 5:00 PM Jul 16, 2020
A gem of a park in Portsmouth
My exposure to Portsmouth has been limited. Mainly (as a Mainer), I lived north of Portland and a road trip to Portsmouth wasn't always at the top of my agenda. I guess I didn't know what I was missing! Last July, my wife and I bought a house in southern Maine and now we're only 35 minutes away from what we are finding is a gem of a small city, the hub of a very vibrant Seacoast region just across our southern border. We had an enjoyable trip to Portsmouth just prior to Christmas and we voiced the desire to make regular weekend trips a reality. Of course, who could have predicted a pandemic? Since March, like most people, we've been cooped up at home, leaving only to go to work and to do grocery shopping. We were long overdue for a return trip to our new destination to our south. With plans to try a lobster roll on the river, we ventured into one of Portsmouth's most historic neighborhoods, near Strawberry Banke. Lo and behold, just across the street, we saw an amazing park--Prescott Park. I'll be honest: while I didn't even think about spending time in a beautiful green space, the best part of our day in Portsmouth turned out to be discovering Prescott Park and learning about some of the history of the area. Oh, and they have the most amazing formal garden, which is filled with plants that are native to the Seacoast. Also, the back story of how two sisters deeded the land to the city is fascinating and also filled with some intrigue (you should check it out). What impressed my wife and I was how busy the staff seemed to be in upkeep and maintaining the gardens. They were also very helpful with any questions. This is very different than how I've perceived green space in Maine's "big city," Portland, over the past 10+ years. Bare bones upkeep at best and a total lack of amenities like Prescott has. Given that the park is a 10+ minute walk from Market Square and the parking garage makes for a very walkable experience for anyone wishing to venture away from bars and shopping and see aspects of an "older" Portsmouth, framed with amazing green space and a riverfront vista.
