Portsmouth NH’s Love Lock Fence Tells Stories Of Commitment, One Padlock At A Time

I moved to New Hampshire back in April, and one of my favorite parts of being new to the Granite State has been discovering all the little things that make it so special.

One of those discoveries was the Love Lock Fence at Prescott Park in Portsmouth.

The first time I saw it, I remember being in awe. Hundreds of locks hanging along the waterfront, each one representing a person, a relationship, a memory or a moment someone wanted to leave behind.

Love Lock Fence at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH

I had seen love locks in other cities, but I never expected to stumble upon one right here in New Hampshire.

And maybe I appreciate it a little more because I've always been a sucker for art! (all forms of it) Coming from the heart of a theater kid, I've always believed that art doesn't have to be sitting inside a gallery or hanging in a museum to mean something. Sometimes it's a performance. Sometimes it's a song. And sometimes, it's a little lock attached to a fence because someone wanted to say, this love mattered to me.

"The idea is a couple has the keys to the lock, lock it on the fence, and toss the keys into the water. Its supposed to symbolize commitment/love." one local said.

The Portsmouth love locks began appearing around 2014. But in 2023, the tradition was almost cut short when the city planned to remove the locks because of concerns about the fence and the weight of the collection. That sparked a petition to save them, which gathered hundreds of signatures.

Thankfully, the locks became more than just pieces of metal attached to a fence. They've become part of the character of Prescott Park and, to so many people, a little piece of Portsmouth.

Brandon James, the executive artistic director for Seacoast Repertory Theatre told WMUR, "It is this incredibly charming, silent, conspiratory expression of love that this community has come together to create,"

As someone who recently moved here, I love that. Because sometimes the most meaningful art isn't something you create for everyone to see. It's something you leave behind because it meant something to you.

Love Lock Fence at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH

One local asked on social media, "Have you visited the lock fence? Do you have a lock on here that carries a lifelong memory?" He continued to say, "A staple of Portsmouth the legendary love lock fence at Prescott Park. Always love to visit when in my home town."

READ MORE: 9 Places Locals Recommend For Locally Sourced Meat In And Around The Seacoast

If this fence could talk, I have a feeling it would have some pretty incredible love stories to tell!