South Mill Pond Recreation Courts Getting a Renovation

The City of Portsmouth has decided to renovate the South Mill Pond Recreation Courts. The entire area will be getting a much needed update; the surface of the courts will be redone, along with new lights that surround the area.

Just beyond the right field fence of Leary Field are six tennis courts, two basketball courts, and a park area for children to play on. The major upgrades here will come in the form of new surface material for the courts. The fifty-year-old playing surfaces need the facelift, and the changes will likely begin at the end of this summer. The City’s Facilities Project manager, Dan Hartrey, is excited for the start of this project. “Not only are we addressing identified, obvious needs,” says Hartrey, “but we will be making other upgrades, including improved lighting, to encourage City residents to use this space more frequently.”

The new lights will be mostly surrounding Leary Field, however it can help out the entire area. Leary Field is a frequently used night venue in Portsmouth, primarily in the summer time. This is a dream location for baseball fans; the parks’ classic wooden grandstand is reminiscent of old-time baseball, making this a great spot to watch or play a game. The field plays host to many baseball leagues such as Portsmouth Babe Ruth, and the Seacoast Mavericks, who are one of the top baseball teams in the area. (Take a look at their upcoming summer schedule here.) The annual 4th of July Fireworks are held at this venue each summer as well, which takes place at night, so having new lights at the field will be a necessity for those who frequent the area.

As the summer approaches (slowly, but rest assured good people, it will come at some point!) residents will flock to the South Mill Pond area to enjoy warm breezes, fun times with families, and maybe even catch a game. This is a highly popular area, and the buzz of this project should get others excited about what it’ll be like. The city of Portsmouth is rapidly expanding, but it’s making sure that the classic areas of the city will be preserved and capture the essence of what Portsmouth is; the crown jewel of the Seacoast.