What's New

The City of Portsmouth has received a final report from the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) on the air quality monitoring results from the devices placed in locations surrounding the Foundry Place Garage and at New Franklin School. The air quality study was authorized by NHDES in consultation with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1, and the Office of U.S. Representative Chris Pappas.

PORTSMOUTH MEMORIAL DAY PARADE IS CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER. Ceremony takes place at 1 PM, upstairs at Frank E. Booma Post 6 American Legion 96 Islington Street. Please note that the parking at the American Legion is for members only.

The City of Portsmouth announces its collaboration with the VFW Post #168 and the American Legion, Frank E. Booma Post 6, for the City’s Memorial Day observances.

For the twelfth consecutive year, Standard and Poor’s (S&P) Global Rating has reaffirmed the City of Portsmouth’s AAA bond rating, which measures the City’s ability to manage its credit. S&P cited its opinion of “Portsmouth's very strong management and economic profile, which it thinks will likely continue to support positive financial operations, resulting in the continued maintenance of high reserves.”

The Department of Public Works (DPW) Parks & Greenery Division is in full springtime operation. The annual planting of 100 new trees is complete, and the Division now turns its attention to pruning, mowing, and garden maintenance, paying special attention to the lawns in City parks.

Specifically, the Division plans to reseed the grass in Goodwin and Haven Parks starting May 13, 2024 (weather-permitting). DPW asks that dog owners pay close attention to that effort and work to keep their pets off the newly seeded lawns. 

The public is invited to attend a City Council Work Session for the Community Policing Facility with City staff and consultants on Monday, May 20, 2024 at 6 pm in Council Chambers at City Hall and via Zoom. City staff will be on hand starting at 5:30 pm to discuss the history of the project efforts to date and answer questions from the public.

Starting Monday, May 13, 2024, the Department of Public Works will perform final paving on the section of Market Street between Deer Street and Hanover Street.

For over twenty years, the Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Portsmouth with its Tree City USA Award. For the past five years, the Foundation has also awarded its Tree Growth Award to the City’s Department of Public Works urban forestry crew. City Arborist Supervisor Max Wiater with the City’s Parks and Greenery Division, led by Parks and Greeneries Foreman, Corin Hallowell and the Trees & Public Greenery Committee, have helped Portsmouth achieve this distinction and plan to honor the outgoing Trees & Greenery Committee Co-Chair with this year’s Arbor Day commemorations.

The City’s Public Art Review Committee (PARC) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from artists interested in submitting designs for a work of art on Peirce Island to be funded through the City’s Percent-for-Art program. In preparation for the RFP, PARC held three community input sessions to discuss the Committee’s role, the history of Peirce Island, and the process for determining a location for the Peirce Island Art Project.

The Planning & Sustainability Department is hosting the first Market Square Master Plan Public Workshop in City Council Chambers on April 24, 2024 at 5:30 pm.

This extensive project will explore and document proposed changes for Market Square with vigorous community input and professional design assistance, to create a plan that forms a foundation for the design of necessary infrastructure upgrades and enhancements to Market Square. The planning process will continue throughout 2024 and inform the upcoming Citywide Master Plan.

In a unanimous vote on March 18, 2024, the Portsmouth City Council adopted the recommendation of the City’s Parking Division to change the 2012 Parking Ordinance which sets all on street and City parking lot rates to the same price. The change will go into effect on Monday, April 15. The new ordinance does not affect rates in the Foundry or Hanover garages.