Portsmouth unveils 'Jubilation' statue and new roundabout as centerpiece of downtown revitalization

Dr. Gregory M. Coleman welcomed attendees and said the city was gathered to "officially unveil a new symbol of beauty, pride, and progress" with the dedication of a roundabout, fountain and the statue known as "Jubilation." Pastor Dr. Melvin O'Mariner led an invocation before scheduled remarks.

City Manager Steven Carter credited city staff and engineers with completing the project and described the centerpiece as a preservation of local history. Carter said the statue — depicting three dancing figures that previously greeted visitors to Willard Hall — helps "build on" Portsmouth's past rather than erase it. "Placing the Jubilation statues here at the center of this roundabout is a deeply symbolic process," Carter said, adding the roundabout was designed "for safety, efficiency, and continuously moving people forward."

Carter used the dedication to highlight nearby projects, saying the Civic Center Complex had been cleared to make way for waterfront redevelopment, that construction is under way on a new city hall and that a high-end multifamily development is beginning nearby. He also described ongoing streetscape work on High Street from the waterfront up to Effingham and stressed the city is investing in longer-term infrastructure improvements rather than temporary patching.

Mayor Shannon Glover framed the work as part of a broader civic momentum. "When you come to Portsmouth, you'll always be able to tell your friends, meet me at Jubilation," Glover said, calling the sculpture "the center of our city, the epicenter of everything that will happen in our future." The mayor credited public art with strengthening downtown identity and economic activity and noted the sculpture will greet residents and visitors attending concerts and festivals at the nearby pavilion.

Glover also cited cultural context for the placement: the city will host the Umoja festival this weekend, which she described as a decades-old African American cultural event. The mayor acknowledged numerous contributors by name and singled out Maria Carter (described in remarks as an "unofficial project manager") for help getting the fountain completed.

The program cited the sculpture's provenance: speakers said the bronze work was created in 1989 and stands about eight feet tall. The city announced the piece will serve as a public-art focal point for the downtown waterfront area.

Remarks at the dedication included one inconsistency in how the artist's name was rendered in the transcript: the sculpture was referred to as created by "Michael J. Van Der Salmon" in one passage and later as "Jay Van Dermer Salmon." The transcript also alternately spells a contributor's surname as "Carter" and "Clark." The city credited the work to the Portsmouth Civic Arts program during remarks; the program and city staff were named and thanked onstage.

The ceremony concluded with Mayor Glover calling for the ribbon to be cut and formally opening the new roundabout, fountain and the "Jubilation" sculpture to the public.

Next steps referenced by city leaders include continued streetscape design and downtown redevelopment efforts; no votes or formal council actions were recorded during the event.