Glenn: As Portsmouth recreation programs grow, so should equitable access
Last Monday the results of the new Portsmouth Recreational Needs Study were presented to the City Council following months of workshops, surveys, and consultant work. It was fascinating to hear how our community assets (playing fields, pools, senior center, playgrounds, and so on) compare to comparably sized cities, and what residents feel are the greatest needs. I knew of the desire for more outdoor field space, for indoor fields, and an ice hockey rink, but of course this study was far more comprehensive.
I encourage you to find it on the Recreation Department webpage: cityofportsmouth.com/recreation.
In particular I was impressed that one of three main goals identified was to improve connectivity and mobility by enhancing “walkability, bikeability, and universal access throughout the community.”
As a bike commuter and a resident who plays in sports leagues on Portsmouth fields, swims in the pools, and brings my elementary age children to Rec Department sports and activities, I often think about transportation access, and it was good to hear that so many other families think the same.
Many would love to avoid the long drives to Hampton, Epping and Dover for indoor soccer, baseball and hockey, and many hockey players and coaches came out Monday night to ask for a Portsmouth rink. Beyond that, I know that parents would love to have the freedom to allow their children to access rink and field-space safely on their own outside a car. There has been much press recently about the “15 minute city” concept where all essential services (work, housing, shopping, medical, and play) can be found within the distance of a short walk or bike ride.
A related idea is the “child friendly city," where children can access recreation without being shepherded everywhere in a minivan. In some ways we are fortunate to already have that in Portsmouth, especially for those who live near Leary and Clough Fields, the South Mill Pond courts and playground, and the Connie Bean Center. Other neighborhoods benefit from proximity to the High School and indoor pool, Senior Center, or Spinnaker Point, among others, but in many places bike and foot access need to be improved.
One big theme in the report was around positioning Community Campus off Route 1 as a hub. The Recreation Department has already moved their offices there and built a large new turf field with prep work done for a second. There is room for more growth, but how does that align with the goal of safe access outside a car? COAST Bus will take you there, but only once an hour, not on Sunday, and you need to remember to notify the driver. I bike there regularly to play sports and have brought my kids to soccer by tandem bike, but for more people to feel comfortable doing that, we really need to follow the national shift toward creating multi-use paths that are separate from car traffic.
Fortunately there are projects in the works. The New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway (rail trail) will be built in the next year, and the Recreation study shows abundant public enthusiasm for that and for more off-road trails.
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City planners have considered turning the sidewalk along Route 33 into a path, which could connect the rail trail and future Skate Park to Peverly Hill road, soon to have a multi-use path. That will take you past the YMCA to the city Public Works driveway, where earlier plans proposed a direct bike and pedestrian connection to the new Community Campus fields. With a small effort, that access point could be opened up at the same time as the Peverly Hill path. And at the state level, there are plans to add a bike and foot path alongside Route 1 south of Wilson Road, and to include a pedestrian activated stop light at the end of West Road for Community Campus access from Elwyn Park. If NHDOT could be convinced to extend the planned path along Route 1 north into downtown it would be a truly terrific asset to the community.
All of this takes time and prioritization from city government, but the reality is that bike improvements are relatively cheap and also provide important recreational benefits. I remain hopeful after hearing from Mayor Deaglan McEachern, Councilor Kate Cook, and the Placework consultant about the importance of equity in our recreational offerings. Equity includes easy access for those who may not drive due to youth or old age, disability, and financial means. Better transit and better bike paths benefit the kid on a skateboard as well as the adult in a motorized wheelchair. Portsmouth has many excellent recreational programs and facilities and as they expand I hope that equitable access can as well.
Matthew Glenn is on the board of Seacoast Area Bicycle Riders. You can provide your thoughts or get involved by writing to info@seacoastbikes.org.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Glenn: As Portsmouth recreation programs grow, so should access
