Increased outdoor dining options may be one of the few silver linings of the pandemic. But in Portsmouth, where Jersey barriers are used to separate alfresco options, the concrete blocks lacked the high-end charm for which Portsmouth is known. So, the city teamed up with high school students to beautify those barriers.
In addition to painting them a neutral blue-grey, students in architectural design and woodworking classes at Portsmouth High are building specially designed flowers planters that will sit atop the barriers.
Steve Jones, architecture/design-build instructor at Portsmouth High School, says about 25 students have been involved in the project, building 40 planters that made their debut June 1. “Portsmouth downtown takes pride in its aesthetic,” he says. “I think it will be more fitting to provide the nicer atmosphere for people to enjoy all the restaurants and not feel like they are sitting on the side of highway.”
Current Issue - April 2024