To the editor:

Are you looking for good hiking trails? Maybe you would like to bring your family to a place where they can marvel at the sunset. Do you want to learn about Portsmouth’s role in history?

We have some recommendations of Portsmouth places you can visit. During the month of October, the Portsmouth Conservation Commission is sponsoring events for Portsmouth residents to “Discover Your Portsmouth.”

The Town of Portsmouth is blessed with town-owned historical and recreational landscapes that we can all enjoy. Unfortunately, many residents are unaware of many of these locations. Among the duties of the Portsmouth Conservation Commission is to “preserve natural aesthetic areas with the town.” Portsmouth residents can only value preserving these beautiful areas if they know about them and use them for recreation. 

The commission is partnering with town committees to introduced residents to locations they may not know about. The Melville Park Committee tends to the hiking trails around Melville Ponds. They are offering a guided hike on Oct. 5. The Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee is doing the work of restoring an earthwork Revolutionary War fort. Members of the committee will provide tours of the fort on Oct. 19.

The Bristol Ferry Common Committee preserves a town common that has ben used by Portsmouth residents for over 200 years. The evening of Oct. 5, Commons Committee members will be talking about the historic area along with an actor portraying a figure in Bristol Ferry history. Steps away from the common is one of Portsmouth’s newest parks, Mt. Hope Park. Sunsets with the Mt. Hope Bridge in the background can be amazing. We will offer some tips on taking good sunset photos.

These are the locations we are focusing on this year. Next year, we will introduce walking trails on Glen Farm, the Battle of Rhode Island significance of Heritage Park, and the quiet beauty of Founder’s Brook.

If you want more information, come to an introductory talk at the Portsmouth Free Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 6:30 p.m.

You can e-mail: gloriaschmidt@portsmouthhistorynotes.com.

Conni Harding

Chair, Portsmouth Conservation Commission

884 Union St.

Portsmouth