Parks Department partners with Highland Street Foundation and Red Sox for Park Renovations

Mayor Martin J. Walsh has announced details of a $125,000 partnership between the Highland Street Foundation, the Boston Red Sox, and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department that will support repairs and rehabilitation to baseball fields in ten parks citywide.

The parks slated for the upgrades are Smith Field in Allston, Hardiman Playground in Brighton, Ryan Playground in Charlestown, Dorchester Park in Dorchester, Noyes Park in East Boston, Daisy Field in Jamaica Plain, Langone Park in the North End, Edna V. Bynoe Park in Roxbury, Moakley Park in South Boston, and Peters Park in the South End.

“This funding will help boost the regular care of our ball fields and bring some of our older facilities up to date,” said Mayor Walsh.  “Thanks to our partnership with the Highland Street Foundation and the Red Sox, youth in these ten neighborhoods will have even better places to play ball this summer.”

Each ball field will receive fresh baseball diamond mix clay, pitcher’s mound clay, home plate clay, privacy screens on backdrops, sod cutting for edges, and lining.  In addition, Dorchester Park will receive more intensive turf rehabilitation and small capital repairs. 

“We are excited to partner with the City of Boston and the Red Sox to improve the fields and hope the kids have a sense of pride as they take out their gloves and bats this season,” said Blake Jordan, Highland Street’s Executive Director.

To celebrate the park renovations, the Highland Street Foundation, the Parks Department, and the Red Sox will host “Out of the Park” on Boston Common on Sunday, June 28, at 1 p.m.  Youngsters and their families are invited to watch the Red Sox play the Tampa Bay Rays broadcast by the New England Sports Network (NESN) on a massive big screen with cut-ins by a live game announcer.  Baseball fans of all ages are welcome to bring a blanket to watch the game on the big screen and cheer on the Red Sox. 

This free event will feature live viewing of the game, caricaturists, balloon artists, face painters, giveaways, and refreshments.  Special guests include Red Sox mascot Wally, Red Sox DJ TJ Connelly, Announcer Henry Mahegan, Organist Josh Kantor, and the Hot Tamales Brass Band.  In addition, there will be a series of baseball-themed community events for children at some of the rehabbed parks with refreshments, games, and giveaways on dates to be announced.