Vandalism, graffiti, drug paraphernalia, and what city officials called “pure disrespect” at Greenlawn Cemetery have prompted Portsmouth to change access at two cemetery entrances.
The cemetery is not closing, but the gates at the Kinney’s Lane and Grant Street entrances will no longer be open 24 hours a day.
According to Portsmouth city government, those gates will now be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on weekends.
The Offnere Street entrance will remain open at all hours beginning July 10, 2026.
City officials issued a clarification after some residents worried the cemetery was being closed to the public.
“Be advised that the City of Portsmouth is NOT closing Greenlawn Cemetery,” the city said.
Officials said the change was made because of recent vandalism and destruction inside the historic cemetery. The city also shared images showing graffiti and drug paraphernalia left behind on cemetery grounds.
Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to contact the Portsmouth Police Department at 740-353-4101.
Trouble at the Cemetery Is Not New
SCDN has reported on multiple troubling incidents at Greenlawn Cemetery over the years, including crashes, suspected drug activity, people sleeping on the grounds, and vandalism.
Two months ago, police responded after a blue pickup truck was found abandoned near the mausoleum. A caller said the truck had struck tombstones earlier in the evening and blown a tire.
When officers arrived, they found what appeared to be damage to three tombstones. Police had the truck towed and took information for a report.
Two years ago, police responded just before 1 a.m. after a caller reported another blue truck in the cemetery that may have struck tombstones. Officers later found two abandoned vehicles with minor damage. A man walking near the cemetery told police he had been a passenger in one of the vehicles and claimed they had been chased through the cemetery after a road rage incident.
In another strange case, officers were called to Greenlawn after someone reported a man wearing gray underwear and a ski mask running around the cemetery. Police later found him in the 1300 block of Park Avenue and took him into custody.
Longstanding Vandalism Concerns
Greenlawn Cemetery has also been hit by repeated vandalism over the years.
Two years ago, damage in the Hebrew section of the cemetery led to discussions about seeking federal grant money for security improvements.
Sandy Marshall from Portsmouth’s Beneh Abraham Synagogue said at the time that vandals had destroyed around 30 monuments in the cemetery over the previous 15 years.
Greenlawn is one of Portsmouth’s most historic places, with generations of local families buried there. For many residents, damage to the cemetery is not just property damage. It is a violation of family resting places, community history, and basic respect for the dead.
The city says people may still visit the cemetery, but anyone using the Kinney’s Lane or Grant Street entrances will need to do so during the new weekday hours. The Offnere Street entrance will remain available at all times.
