On a warm Wednesday night this week, roughly twenty kids played flag football on the field at Eden Park.
Sahvier Warren says he comes to the park twice a week to watch his little brother play in the City league.
“I would like to see a cleaner pool, some grills out here, clean porta-potties, and probably a new parkset, or clean the parkset— because I know a lot of people, it’s kind of dirty, I’ve seen kids peeing on it,” he said.
According to city officials, the planned improvements include a new full-size, synthetic turf field, a new scoreboard, recoating of three park pools, new pool filtration systems and new playground equipment.
City officials say renovating Eden Park will likely cost $2.4 million, and a request for proposals has been issued.
Marie Reed is president of the civic association of Southbridge, just north of the park. She says residents often talk to her about the park’s old benches and it’s swing sets with no swings.
“They will be absolutely ecstatic when I tell them,” she said.
Reed says she hopes to be able to coordinate community input about the park renovations. She says after a 2012 shooting in the park, security there is a priority for the community.
The City has also announced plans to lease Baynard Stadium to Salesianum School, which will put in $15 to 20 million to rehabilitate the aging sports complex.
Officials add that the public/private partnership includes a provision guaranteeing other schools and youth groups use of the stadium.
The plan needs City Council approval.
