Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH | Photographs

Portsmouth, New Hampshire has been getting a lot of well-deserved hype in recent years. Its dining scene constantly rakes in the praise, and its long history as one of the oldest towns in the country offers enough to pique anybody’s interest. With one of the liveliest arrays of arts and culture anywhere and a prime New England coastal location, it’s no wonder that Portsmouth has been called the best small town in America, and fifth best in the world. Prescott Park adds a dash of garden beauty to this seaside city’s mystique. The 10 acres of well-maintained waterfront property are home to picnic areas, a stage for small concerts and performances, boat docks, art galleries, and more. It’s the perfect place to relax and read a book by the water, or to immerse yourself in the arts and culture of this vibrant city. The park began as an idea in the minds of two schoolteachers – a pair of sisters who loved their town and envisioned great things for its future. When they found themselves the beneficiaries of a large sum of money from their late brother, they used it to beautify what was once a run-down, industrial part of the city. Land was purchased, plans were drawn, and the work continued well into the sisters’ later lives. When one sister died, maintenance and development instructions, as well as more funds for expansion of the park, were found in her will. Since then, the Prescott Park has become a hub of activity, overflowing with the charm and attraction that the two women once could only hope it would. Here’s a look at Portsmouth, New Hampshire’s Prescott Park in summer.

Have you ever visited Prescott Park in Portsmouth, New Hampshire? MORE PORTSMOUTH:A Fall Visit to Downtown Portsmouth, New HampshireWhere to Eat in Portsmouth, New HampshirePrescott Park. 105 Marcy Street, Portsmouth, NH. 603-431-8748; cityofportsmouth.com/prescottpark