City officials celebrated the re-opening of a new-and-improved park in Southbridge this weekend.
Officials announced last year that Eden Park on the southern edge of the city would get a major renovation.
The playground equipment was covered with peeling paint and the swingset had no swings.
But the park now sports a synthetic turf field, a repainted basketball court, new sidewalks and benches, a pavillion and brand new age-specific playground equipment.
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2277437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fwdde%2Ffiles%2F201810%2FEdenPark_swings.jpg)
“The park looks absolutely fantastic,” said Marie Reed, president of the Southbridge Civic Association. “We’re really, really pleased about that.”
Reed says locals are already enjoying the park’s revamped pool — which has been recoated and decked with a new filtration system and umbrella spray feature.
“Of course the children are utilizing the swimming pool, because I talk to them every day, you know, the children and their mothers, coming and going from the swimming pool and they absolutely love it.”
City council approved a deal to lease Baynard Stadium to Salesianum school last year. City officials said that move allowed the city to fund the $2.4 million Eden Park renovations.
The city’s new OpenGov web portal shows the project also received $400,000 in grants.