Skateboarding has become quite popular again, especially in Portsmouth. It has also caused issues between skaters and police. Fortunately, Portsmouth decided to create a brand-new skate park located at 979 Greenland Road, Portsmouth. This is a new spot for all the older and younger skaters to enjoy their sport for free, and this six-month-long process was well worth it.
“My son Jesse has been skateboarding since he was 5,” explained Amy-Mae Court, the former co-chair of the skate park committee and parent to Portsmouth High School student, Jesse Court. “Since then I had dreamed of a better skatepark in Portsmouth, and when Rye Airfield closed I knew that it had to be done.”
Court also said that it was a fun yet stressful project since she knew she had to appeal to the entire community; it also took a lot of planning and organizing.
Amy explained that this skatepark was built by Artisan, a premier skatepark construction company. Most if not all of their employees are skateboarders. It was designed by the artisan’s parent company, Pillar. They presented their designs at the public meetings at the city hall.
There was also a voice of opinion from others attending members at the meeting, and the local skateboarders members of all ages voiced their input. Everyone agrees Pillar did a good job of letting everyone in the community reach a consensus on the planning and design.
According to an article in Seacoastonline by Ian Lenahan published in April, 2023, this was a $3 million project, and the skate park materials themselves were a portion of that. Most of the money had to go to project designers and construction workers. They also had to include the price of design, site remediation and drainage, landscaping, and other things like the parking lot.
”The skatepark is important because it brings kids like me off the streets of downtown Portsmouth,” Jesse Court, a local skateboarder and PHS senior, said. “Cops always get mad at us and kick us out. It also brings people together and is a place where people who have the same interests can make friends.”
Jesse was also an active participant in the City Council skatepark committee and was very outspoken about building the skatepark in the first place.
Dorian Gass, a PHS senior and another local skateboarder attended city hall meetings and is a regular visitor of the park. Dorian says he likes the skatepark “because it gives people a reason to get outside, it builds community, and encourages those who want to learn. Additionally, it gives skaters a dedicated place to skate besides downtown Portsmouth.” He is grateful to have it.
More information about the skate park is available on the city’s website.
