Portsmouth Council renames skatepark for community leader Chris Rice

The Portsmouth City Council voted unanimously June 20 to rename the city skatepark the Chris Rice Skateboard Park, honoring a longtime local skateboard advocate who helped build and sustain the community around the park.

Friends, family and skaters told the council during an extended public comment period that Chris Rice ran a local skate shop, organized fundraising and took a hands‑on role in designing and maintaining the park. Supporters said renaming the facility would preserve Rice’s legacy of mentoring youth and building community.

Speakers at City Hall described Rice as a mentor and organizer who lobbied for years for a dedicated park, donated time and materials and stayed involved in maintenance. “Chris had a passion for skateboarding. He had a passion for kids that were interested, and he would do anything to help kids,” said Allory Lane, who said Rice gave her son his first job. Esther Kennedy, a former councilor, urged the council to use the specific name “skateboard” in the title because Rice objected to the broader term “skate park.” Dave Colesgrove urged the council to consider Rice’s decades of work, listing fundraising, construction oversight and community outreach he said Rice led. Ian Coughlin, who said he owns a skate shop that followed Rice’s legacy, and multiple other speakers described the skate shop as a community hub rather than merely a business.

Councilors moved to suspend the rules to take up the Recreation Board’s recommendation and to consider the renaming on the June 20 agenda. Councilor Bagley made a motion, on behalf of the Recreation Board, requesting the city council rename the Portsmouth Skatepark the Chris Rice Skatepark; the motion was amended on the floor to include the word “Skateboard” and read as the Chris Rice Skateboard Park to reflect supporters’ request. The amendment was presented by Councilor Bagley as a friendly amendment reflecting family preferences.

Council members then took a roll‑call vote. Assistant Mayor Kelly cast the first affirmative vote; the final tally recorded the motion as unanimous. The clerk read the roll: Assistant Mayor Kelly — Yes; Councilor Tabor — Yes; Councilor Cook — Yes; Councilor Denton — Yes; Councilor Blaylock — Yes; Councilor Bagley — Yes; Councilor Moreau — Yes; Councilor Lombardi — Yes; Mayor McCaffery — Yes. Councilors present recounted letters and a petition supporting the renaming; none reported opposition in the council chamber.

The council also agreed to work with the family on the formal naming signage and any programmatic recognition. No additional budgetary appropriation specifically for signage was detailed during the motion; councilors said staff would follow up on logistics and the family’s preferences.

Supporters who spoke noted Rice’s work spanned design, fundraising, shop operations and day‑to‑day care of the park. “He spearheaded the construction of a DIY park in town. He donated merchandise, sweat equity, his expertise in design,” Dave Colesgrove said. Ian Coughlin added that Rice’s shop functioned as a meeting place and mentor space for many young people and that naming the park would continue his local role as a community touchstone.

The council approved the renaming by unanimous vote and scheduled the sign and formal dedication details to be worked out with staff and the Rice family.