Mound Park, one of Portsmouth’s oldest and best-known public parks, saw its share of police calls this week. The historic park—named for the ancient Native American burial mound it surrounds—has long been a gathering spot for families, sports teams, and community events. But it’s also become a hotspot for complaints ranging from fights to noisy crowds.
Child Reportedly Jumped
The first call came around 4:30 p.m. when a woman told 911 that her child had been “jumped” by four teenagers in the park. She didn’t want to press charges but did want police to tell the kids involved to leave her child alone.
Crowd Reported as “Threatening”
Just two hours later, around 6:30 p.m., another caller reported a large group—15 to 20 people—on the Grant Street side of the park, allegedly threatening each other and making aggressive remarks. When officers arrived, however, they found nothing more than a group of people cooking out and playing Cornhole.
Rumors of Another Fight
At 7 p.m., another woman at the park asked to speak to officers, telling them that multiple juveniles had been fighting earlier. She said she was sitting near the basketball courts watching football practice and overheard kids planning to start fighting again. No active fight was reported at the time, but officers documented the complaint.
While Mound Park remains a hub for neighborhood sports and community events, incidents like these show the challenges of balancing its role as a gathering place with safety concerns.
