Bear Brook State Park
Trail network · Merrimack Valley · NH
Park size: 10,000+ acres · Apr – Nov
$4 day-use fee
South Mill Pond courts
4.5 on GooglePortsmouth · Seacoast
Photos coming soon
Public courts in Portsmouth
In season now · May – Oct
Outdoor courts, weather permitting; indoor drop-in at Spinnaker Point and the Community Campus gym covers the off-season.
Free outdoor courts
Free; indoor drop-in at Spinnaker Point and the Community Campus is $10 a play for nonresidents
Eight free, lighted courts by downtown Portsmouth.
Portsmouth’s eight dedicated, lighted courts sit at the South Mill Pond Recreation Complex on Junkins Avenue, a short walk from Strawbery Banke and Market Square. Mornings are rotational group play (four in, four out); the rest of the day is first come, first served, and the lights stay on until 10 pm in the main season. Eight more dedicated courts are at the Community Campus, and the city runs indoor drop-in sessions when the weather turns.
At a glance
- Courts
- 8 dedicated, lighted
- Cost
- Free, first come
- Group play
- Daily mornings, 4 in / 4 out
- Lights
- Until 10 pm in season
- More courts
- 8 dedicated at the Community Campus, plus indoor drop-in
What’s here
- Dedicated courts
- Outdoor
- Lighted
- Open play / drop-in
- Free to play
- Lessons and clinics
Weather this week
Loading the live forecast for South Mill Pond courts…
Lessons, clubs and gear
- Portsmouth Recreation Department
Free beginner clinics at South Mill Pond in spring and summer (register ahead) and the indoor open-gym schedules.
- Spinnaker Point Recreation Center
Indoor rotational pickleball sessions; $10 a play for nonresidents.
- New England Pickleball Club – Rye
Indoor club where non-members can book a private court, take a class or join social events.
Where to stay
- hotelWentworth by the Sea
Grand Victorian resort hotel on New Castle island, with a spa and harbor views.
- innMartin Hill Inn
Restored historic inn on Islington Street with self check-in, a walk from downtown.
Nearby
- Strawbery Banke Museum · 5 min walk
Outdoor history museum of restored houses and gardens in the old South End.
- Prescott Park · 10 min walk
Waterfront gardens on the Piscataqua River with a summer arts festival of concerts and shows.
- Odiorne Point State Park · 15 min drive
Rocky shoreline, tide pools and trails in Rye, home of the Seacoast Science Center.
4.5 on Google
read Oct 3, 2026Getting there
- Boston Logan International (BOS) · about 1 hr drive
- Boston · about 1 hr
- Portland, ME · about 1 hr
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Make a trip of it
Within about 40 miles: other things to do, places to camp and the winter side.