10/09/2025
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreational Management (PBRM) Tom Ashe announced today the return of public skating hours at the renovated Cyr Arena starting Friday, October 10th, 2025. The arena is located in Forest Park and is accessible via the Trafton Road entrance.

Mayor Sarno states, “I want to thank PBRM Director Tom Ashe and his team for their continued efforts navigating and facilitating all of our public recreational amenities.  The reopening of our public skating hours at Cyr Arena on Cheryl Clapprood Rink, continues my Administrations commitment to enhancing all of our youth and public recreational activities.  This annual tradition of holding public skating hours during the fall and winter seasons is a beloved activity for children and their families and I am happy to see its return this year.”  

PBRM Ashe states, “Springfield Parks is proud to host another year of public skating at the Forest Park Cyr Arena. I would like to thank Mayor Sarno as he continues to support our efforts to produce and promote these types of family-orientated activities. We encourage everyone to come and enjoy public skating this fall and into winter.”

For more information, please visit the Parks Department website at:  www.springfield-ma.gov/park/cyr.  Please note the Cyr Arena accepts cash, debit and credit cards, with a minimum charge of $1.00 and a 2.95% service fee.

10/02/2025

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and city officials, including Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management Thomas Ashe, Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall, Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers, Health & Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, School Committee member and Old Hill Neighborhood Council President Barbara Gresham, Ward 5 City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce, who chairs the City Council Subcommittee on Public Safety, and City Councilor Brian Santaniello joined at Johnny Appleseed Park on Thursday morning with Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi and team to announce the expansion of the City and the Hamden County Sheriff’s Office public safety partnership in our Springfield parks.

Under the enhanced partnership, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office will assist the city’s Department of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management with park clean-up, including proper disposal of drug paraphernalia, like discarded needles. The Sheriff’s Office will have dedicated crews that are trained to properly pick-up and dispose of items like used needles.

“As I have said before, the damage inflicted by the opioid crisis to Springfield’s most precious resource, our residents, has been tremendous and will take Herculean efforts from the city, nonprofits, our community partners and stakeholders to heal,” stated Mayor Sarno. “This is one part of that effort, and we remain committed to healing our community from this crisis at all levels. I am extremely thankful that once again, Sheriff Nick Cocchi and his dedicated team have stepped up to partner with our city in order to increase public safety. We are truly grateful to Sheriff Nick Cocchi and his team, who have been great partners with the City of Springfield on a number of citywide initiatives that benefit our residents and neighborhoods. From their dedicated patrols in our beloved Forest Park, to our neighborhood clean-up events, supporting SPD in serving civil papers as issued from our courts, our enhanced public safety and hospitality elements for the Safe Travels Initiative for Union Station, and now working together on public-safety cleanup aspects within our Springfield Parks.”

Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi states, “Our partnerships in Springfield have always been about one thing—working together to make our community safer and stronger. Families and children deserve to enjoy our parks without worrying about what’s left behind from the opioid crisis. That’s why our crews, trained by the Red Cross in safe bloodborne pathogen practices, will be removing and disposing of drug paraphernalia the right way. We’re proud to stand with the City and our partners to protect our neighborhoods and give families safe, welcoming places to gather.”

Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Thomas Ashe states, “I am grateful to Sherriff Nick Cocchi for his continued trust in our city and department to be part of this community restitution program. The work of the Sheriff and his teams is very important to the city and the Park and Facilities Divisions and we appreciate their partnership to ensure our parks are clean and safe for positive recreational enjoyment. Special thanks to Mayor Sarno for his steadfast support of our parks system, and the important outlet it provides for families. I would also like to thank all of our PBRM staff for their continued excellent stewardship of our parks throughout the city. We are very proud of our beautiful city-wide parks system and our Department works diligently to take care of it. However, it truly takes a team effort in keeping our community clean and safe and none of us can do it alone. This effort is possible thanks to initial funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, thank you to Commissioner Helen Caulton Harris and team. We are grateful for this collaboration and to all who continue to step and make our parks system the best it can be.”

Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers stated, “Anytime we can make our parks and school grounds safer for our children, we must act on it.  It’s unacceptable to dispose of needles in these areas especially when there are needle exchange locations nearby.  I’d like to thank Mayor Sarno, Commissioner Caulton-Harris and Sheriff Cocchi for their cooperation in assisting us in ways that enhance public safety for the children in our community.”

This multi-agency collaborative partnership is one component of ongoing city-wide opioid response efforts under the Department of Health and Human Services led by Commissioner Helen Caulton Harris. As the collaborative city-wide opioid response efforts continue to be rolled out, this enhanced partnership will address the immediate need of cleaning up our parks so they are safe for all to use and enjoy.

Health & Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris states, “I want to thank Mayor Sarno for his continued leadership and advocacy on behalf of our residents’ safety and quality of life. His support, along with our many strong partnerships, have been instrumental as we continue working to address this opioid crisis.  The Department of Health and Human Services remains committed to the City of Springfield’s opioid response plan. We will continue implementing our city-wide collaborative effort which includes comprehensive wrap-around services for people affected by the opioid crisis. This park safety clean-up initiative will, in the meantime, address the immediate need for proper and safe collection/disposal of materials like needles. I commend and thank Sheriff Cocchi and his crews for their dedicated efforts and supporting public health and safety for all.”

On behalf of the Department of Health & Human Services, Commissioner Caulton-Harris shared today that the Department will hire a Harm Reduction Specialist to coordinate some of these efforts, and set up a hot line to report discarded needles.

Commissioner Caulton Harris stated, “It is important that everyone around this city, where they live work, play and pray are feeling safe. We will be hiring a Harm Reduction Specialist who will work closely with our partner agencies who are already on the ground in the community doing needle recovery. The Harm Reduction Specialist will work with these agencies to ensure all spaces and places in the city have access to someone who is trained and can safely do this work.”

“We will also be setting up a phone number our residents can call, a ‘hot line,’ to report needles,” continued Commissioner Caulton Harris. “This is a year-round effort, and the Harm Reduction Specialist will also coordinate closely with our Cold Weather Outreach team. Our focus will be on churches and other places where needles are being discarded. Where needles are discarded is where individuals with substance use disorders are congregating. With this information, we are able to engage individuals to prevent, intervene, and get individuals into treatment – that’s the job of Public Health. This is an all-hands-on deck effort and it is a sustainable and comprehensive response, not a band aid. I thank all of the partners who make this effort possible and we will continue to roll it out in real time.”

Mayor Sarno added, “I continued to commend Health & Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris and her HHS team for their unyielding efforts, along with Sheriff Nick Cocchi and all of our community partners, in working together to help those get the treatment and resources they need to heal from this opioid situation.  I remain steadfast in the importance of having wraparound services for those affected. Many of us have been affected, whether through friends or family members directly or indirectly with the negative wrath of health and public safety issues. We appreciate Commissioner Carlton Harris’ leadership on our opioid response and will have more details on the hot line aspects coming soon.”

“Our kids, our families, our community deserves safe environments to learn, play, and grow, stated Ward 5 City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce, who chairs the City Council Subcommittee on Public Safety states. “This is great partnership that will benefit our community and help provide the environment we should have in our neighborhood parks, thank you to Sheriff Cocchi and team for again stepping up for our community. I am also deeply grateful to the Springfield Parks Department for their care and dedication to our parks, and for the leadership and support of Mayor Sarno and his continued investment in our parks system. I thank everyone who use our shared open spaces with respect and I hope we can continue to protect and uplift our law-abiding citizens who deserve to enjoy healthy and positive recreational opportunities at our parks.

School Committee member and Old Hill Neighborhood Council President Barbara Gresham states, “We have a beautiful community and its important that we come together to keep it healthy and safe. I commend all involved in this much needed collaboration to ensure the safety of our schools along with our neighborhood parks.”

City Councilor Brian Santaniello stated, “This collaborative initiative is a step in the right direction. I tip my hat to Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, Parks Director Tommy Ashe, Sheriff Cocchi, my colleague on the Council Lavar Click Bruce, of course Mayor Sarno, and all involved in this movement for park safety.”

9/26/25

Play Pickleball!

Mayor Sarno, Parks Director Ashe, City Councilors Walsh & Click-Bruce join with the Springfield Pickleball Association to cut ribbon at Greenleaf Park’s new Pickleball Courts 

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Tom Ashe, City Councilors Lavar Click-Bruce and Kateri Walsh, city officials, and partners from GZA contractors joined the Springfield Pickleball Association organized by retired Springfield Police Lt. Erwin Greene on Friday afternoon to unveil the completion of the new pickle ball courts at Greenleaf Park.  There are now six pickleball courts and one resurfaced tennis court at the park located in the Sixteen Acres neighborhood on Parker Street. 

Mayor Sarno stated, “Many know that parks are near and dear to my heart, and we are all pleased to announce that Pickleball is now available at Greenleaf Park in our Sixteen Acres neighborhood. From what I understand, this game has been around for a while but has become very popular in the last few years. We are fortunate to have many wonderful family-friendly and affordable recreational opportunities here in Springfield and now we can add pickleball to the list!”

The installation of pickleball courts, tennis court resurfacing, lighting improvements, and site amenities like fencing, benches, and trash receptacles at Greenleaf Park is one of the many Neighborhood Enhancement Fund projects that are part of the Sarno administration’s commitment to public investments that create safe, healthy and vibrant neighborhoods throughout the City of Springfield.

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing and most popular sports across the country and feedback from the Springfield community supported the installation of a Pickleball court in the neighborhood. Mayor Sarno and city officials conducted numerous listening sessions and neighborhood walks to connect with residents on how best to use the Neighborhood Enhancement Fund to support quality-of-life neighborhood projects.

This project is the result of a collaboration between the city’s Community Development Office with Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan, Deputy Development Officer Tina Quagliato-Sullivan, and SRA Director Amanda Pham and team, the Department of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) team with Director Tom Ashe, Senior Parks Project Managers Laura Walsh and Chris Seabrooks, and City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce and the 16 Acres Civic Association. 

PBRM Director Tom Ashe states, “We are proud to be able to offer many types of safe and family friendly recreation across the city. From award winning public golf courses to our rare clay tennis courts, and now the very popular pickleball. Thank you to Mayor Sarno, our neighborhood councils, and of course our dedicated PBRM team for your continued partnership to make our parks the best they can be.”

Mayor Sarno states, “I am extremely grateful to each of our neighborhood councils, as well as my internal city team, for their efforts in joining discussions, reaching out to neighbors, and providing feedback on what the needs are in their neighborhoods. This pickle ball court here at Greenleaf is already being utilized by the community. I encourage all to come check out the new courts, which look fantastic with vibrant colors – GZA, the parks and neighborhood teams did a great job on this project which adds to our beautiful Greenleaf Park area. Thank you to retired SPD Lt. Erwin Greene for the quick pickleball lesson and for bringing so many people together for a fun, positive activity.” “P.S. john McEnroe, I am not.”

With more pickleball infrastructure becoming available, the sport continues to grow across the country and attract all ages. 

The Springfield Pickleball Association - SPA, which was organized by Erwin Greene, a retired Springfield Police Lieutenant who also served in the U.S. Air Force, is “Bringing Pickleball to Springfield!” Erwin and the SPA are passionate about growing pickleball in Springfield and look forward to working with the Springfield Park and Recreation Department, and will continue to organize games, events, and opportunities for players. Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581484439105 

Ward 5 City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce states, “I am proud to see the great neighborhood investments taking place throughout the city. Sports and recreation are crucial in an urban environment like our Springfield. We all need a positive and healthy outlet. I think it’s awesome that so many people - young and old - are so into pickleball. I commend Lt. Erwin Greene for getting the Springfield Pickleball Association rolling and am looking forward to more opportunities to play. We had fun getting out on the courts on Friday and I see why people are having fun. I’m excited for this enhancement to our Greenleaf Park here in Sixteen Acres, along with the redevelopments completed last year that added a splash pad, new playground equipment, walking paths, and more. Greenleaf is really a neighborhood hub with something for everyone. We have the 16 Acres Library branch, the Clodo Concepcion Senior Center, our beautiful Greenleaf Park with tennis, basketball, and now pickleball too.” 

45-acre Greenleaf Park, located on Parker Street near the corner of Wilbraham Road, is equipped with accessible walkways and trails, two inclusive playgrounds and swings, a splash pad, athletic fields, a half basketball court, a tennis court, and now 6 pickleball courts, along with site amenities (picnic tables and benches), tree plantings, and landscaping.  

You can also find Pickle Ball courts, along with tennis courts, at Hubbard Park located in the Indian Orchard neighborhood. More pickleball courts are expected to come to other Springfield parks in the future. 

Courts are open for use daily from dawn to dusk.

09/25/2025

This morning along edge of Lake Massasoit on Alden Street, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Tom Ashe, along with City Councilor Tim Allen, joined with chair of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) Bob McCarroll and other CPC members, as well as Frank Ryan and Ellen Moorehouse from the Springfield Conservation and Nature Stewardship, Inc. (SCANS) for the unveiling of renovations at Alden Street Park.

Alden Street Park is located along the shore of Lake Massasoit, where Roosevelt Avenue and Alden Street meet, near the General Edwards Bridge. It abuts the area of Springfield College and has been a popular recreational fishing area for many years. Alden Street Park renovations include improved access to the park with installation of an accessible entrance & pathway, new picnic table and benches, and the accessible fishing dock to improve water-based recreation for City residents. Water-based recreation at this site includes fishing and water-viewing.

This project, managed by the Parks Department, was made possible with a $250,000 grant from the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), and in partnership with the Springfield Conservation and Nature Stewardship, Inc. (SCANS), who submitted the initial application and advocated for this project. GZA contractors who performed the design work also joined today to announce the completion of the project.

Mayor Sarno states, “This is another quality-of-life enhancement project for our neighborhood residents and Springfield College to enjoy passive recreation, relaxation, and great fishing too. It’s also a tranquil place for bird watching and very soon leaf-peeping. One of the great benefits of our area is our proximity and connection to nature. As CPC Chair Bob McCarroll noted today, together with the CPC we have invested nearly $8 million in CPA funds alone toward open space and conservation in neighborhoods throughout Springfield. I commend Director Ashe and team for all their continued dedicated efforts on enhancing our parks and park amenities throughout the city. Shout out to Director Chris Cignoli and our DPW team on the many pedestrian enhancements throughout the city too, including the new cross walk with hawker lights that has also been installed next to Alen Street Park.”

Aquatic Fitness Program: O2H Overweight 2 Healthy

For someone who struggles with their weight, exercising can be very physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging. You are not alone! The City of Springfield’s Aquatics Department will be hosting an aquatic fitness program called O2H, for those who are overweight or obese. This program offers a safe, supportive, and effective way for those individuals to begin to develop a healthier lifestyle in a protected environment with other people who are also overweight.

This fitness program is designed to meet the specific needs of those who are overweight or obese. Exercising in the water allows for low-impact movements that increase range of motion and circulation. Whether you are simply walking or using our aquatic fitness equipment for extra resistance, we can offer a personalized workout for you at your own pace. No swim experience is needed, and we will have a trained lifeguard on staff for everyone’s safety.

The O2H program will be offered at Milton Bradley School on 22 Mulberry St, Springfield, MA. There is a walk-in ramp for easy access to the pool. The program will run twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:45 – 5:30pm OR 5:45pm – 6:30pm beginning September 16, 2025 until November 6, 2025. Pre-registration is required, and there is a cash or check only fee of $70.00 per person for City residents and $80.00 per person for non-City residents. There is also a special rate for Baystate Weight Management patients, available at only $60.00 for the entire session (which includes 16 classes)! All fees are due on the first day of class. The capacity for the program will cap at 25 swimmers per class, so call to register soon!

For more information about the O2H program, or any other Aquatics programs, please call Joe Federico, Aquatics Director, at (413) 787-6298. Do not think of what you have to lose, think of all you will gain!

08/26/2025

 – Open all Labor Day weekend: Saturday, Sunday, & Monday –Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Thomas Ashe have announced that the Forest Park Swan Boats at Porter Lake will continue to be available through the end of September. The Swan Boat rentals will also be available all weekend long for Labor Day, including on Monday, September 1^st.

In July, Mayor Sarno, PBRM Director Ashe, Aquatics Director Joe Federico, and ECOS students joined at Porter Lake inside Forest Park right next to the Clifford A. Phaneuf Environmental Center (ECOS Building) to launch the return of the pedal-style boat rentals to the Park. The 4-seater Swan Boat rentals are now available for families to enjoy this summer on Saturdays and Sundays, and for this long holiday weekend also on Monday.

The hours of operation are 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the last rental at 5:30 p.m. Pedal Boats are first-come, first-served and can be used for half-hour rides on the lake for a $5 per boat rental fee. Specially trained lifeguards are on duty and flotation devices are required and provided to boat passengers. Mayor Sarno states, “So many of us cherish fond memories of spending time at Forest Park with family and friends – for me growing up, parks, especially Forest Park, were my ‘Riviera.’ We are excited to be able to offer another fun way to experience the beauty of Forest Park with this recreational boating experience, that has a history here on Porter Lake dating back nearly a hundred years!”

“This a fun, active, and affordable activity for youths and families that we are proud to be able to offer it once again here at our beloved Forest Park. This was also a popular date activity back in the day,” said Mayor Sarno. “I deeply appreciate Director Tom Ashe and team for all the hard work and preparation to bring back the duck boats. It certainly brought a smile to my face last month and the kids really enjoyed it too.”

Visit the Parks & Recreation webpage for more information: https://www.springfield-ma.gov/park/facilities/swan-boats

8/15/25

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Tom Ashe, Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreational Management, congratulate the incredible Park and Recreation Team for once again being named the 2026 Reader Raves 'Best Local Summer Camp' for Camp Star Angelina.  This distinguished award and recognition is a testament to their dedication and commitment to the children we serve and the families who benefit from all of our summer camps and activities. Congratulations and Well Done!

08/08/2025

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management Thomas Ashe, Assistant Recreation Director Randy Piteo and team joined with Massachusetts Senior Games Chairman Dennis Pollard, Steve Lepow who helped get the this year’s tournament organized, Attorney Tom Dunn, Jack Quigly of the Western Mass Relics squad, members of the Massachusetts Senior Games non-profit organization and 16 men’s senior softball teams on Friday afternoon to kick-off an exciting weekend of family fun at the Mass Senior Games Softball Tournament taking place at Blunt Park here in Springfield.

The tournament continues through the weekend, and Mayor Sarno will be back at Blunt Park this Sunday at 9:00 a.m. to kick-off the elimination round of the tournament. Learn more on the Mass Senior Games website:

https://maseniorgames.usetopscore.com/e/softball-mens-august-8th-10th-2025  Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “On behalf of the City of Springfield, I want to welcome back our Massachusetts Senior Games to Springfield. What began decades ago as a ‘Fun Walk’ in our historic and iconic Forest Park and where senior athletes gathered to compete at Springfield College, has now become a premier senior athletic competition for hundreds of athletes and their families across the State. I was honored to join today in welcoming all of the athletes as they took the field to compete. Shout out and thank you to our Parks Director Tom Ashe, Assistant Recreation Director Randy Piteo, and team for your care and attention to all our city parks. As a former catcher who once wore ‘The tools of ignorance’, I had fun throwing out the ceremonial first pitch too! Hoping that after a successful event, Springfield will become their permanent home for their tournament. Good luck and congratulations to all of the athletes and their families!”

8/8/25

Mayor Sarno and Parks Director Ashe enjoyed live music by the Manzi Family Band at the Forest Park Summer Concert Series

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, along with Director of Parks & Recreation Tom Ashe, was honored to join and bring greetings to kick-off the second concert of the season at the Forest Park Amphitheater last night with the Manzi Family Band. 

Mayor Sarno states, “Forest Park is especially beautiful this time of year and these free, family-friendly concerts are an opportunity to get outside and enjoy the park together. We had a great time, and a lot of laughs with many friends and my former neighbors Frankie & Johnny Manzi from growing up in Forest Park. It was a great performance and atmosphere. Thank you to PBRM Director Ashe and team for your continued hard work to deliver these types of programs that enhance and promote our quality of life and provide special ways to enjoy our very beautiful parks. There are still many great shows to come with this year’s talented line-up – come out for a relaxing evening of great music, and good company at Forest Park!”

08/04/2025

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno was informed today by Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management (PBRM) Thomas Ashe that the final touches on the new scoreboard at the Walker Memorial Grandstand located inside Forest Park have been completed with the installation of the new sign honoring the late, great, legendary sportswriter Garry Brown.

Mayor Sarno states, “We are thrilled to be able to honor the memory and continued legacy of our own Garry Brown. From the sandlots to the Major Leagues, baseball was his passion. Thank you to PBRM Director Ashe and team for following through to get this very meaningful piece of the Walker Grandstand renovations complete. 'Honk if you will always remember and never forget Garry Brown!'”

Garry Brown, who grew up in Springfield, would become a longtime, and well-known sportswriter/columnist for the Springfield Republican and writer of the beloved weekly column “Hitting To All Fields.” Garry was a proud Springfield Tech High grad and served on the school paper at American International College (AIC). Garry was inducted into the AIC Athletics Hall of Fame and the Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame, among many other accolades.

08/04/2025

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management (PBRM) Thomas Ashe announced today that the Forest Park swimming pool will remain open through Saturday, August 16, 2025. The Forest Park pool is open every day of the week from 11:00 am – 6:30 pm.

Mayor Sarno states, “I want to remind residents to stay hydrated, check on your elderly neighbors, be mindful of your pets, and please take advantage of our wonderful park facilities that offer the resources to stay cool during these hot days of summer.  I also want to thank Parks Director Tom Ashe, Aquatics Director Joe Federico and team for their dedication to providing a safe and fun environment to enjoy aquatics activities.”

Enjoy these last few remaining hot days, in a safe and fun environment for the entire family! After all, why just float through life, when you can swim? We look forward to seeing you at the pool for the rest of the summer. For more information, please call the Aquatics Director, at (413) 787-6298.

07/11/2025

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined with Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Thomas Ashe, Aquatics Director Joe Federico, and the Parks Department team on Friday morning for the grand opening of the Swan Boats on Porter Lake. Mayor Sarno, Summer Enrichment Education Coordinator Chiarina (“Chiara) Sarno, and Clifford A. Phaneuf Environmental Center ECOS students Shakah and Ivy hopped in the 4-seater Swan Boat and pedaled around Porter Lake for the inaugural ride this morning.

Earlier this summer, Mayor Sarno and PBRM Director Ashe announced the return of paddle boats, a beloved recreational pastime to Porter Lake inside Forest Park. The new pedal-style Swan Boat rentals are now available for families to enjoy this summer on Saturdays and Sundays. Visit the Parks Department webpage for more information: https://www.springfield-ma.gov/park/

“This a fun, active, and affordable activity for youths and families that we are proud to be able to offer here at our beloved Forest Park. This was also a popular date activity back in the day,” said Mayor Sarno. “I deeply appreciate Director Tom Ashe and team for all the hard work and preparation to bring back the duck boats. It certainly brought a smile to my face this morning to be out there on the water with my daughter Chiara and our students from ECOS – who both did an excellent job today on camera by the way. Special thanks to Aquatics Director Joe Federico and team for keeping us all safe near the water, and John Bilodeau and team for installing the safety barriers. There will be lifeguards on duty and life vests for all passengers down at Porter Lake.”

The students described it as a fun experience seeing and hearing all the birds and nature, and noted how peaceful it was.

Mayor Sarno continued “So many of us cherish fond memories of spending time at Forest Park with family and friends – for me growing up, parks, especially Forest Park, were my ‘Riviera.’ Now we have another exciting way to experience the beauty of Forest Park with this recreational boating experience. You never know what natural wonders you may take in when you visit Forest Park – last time we were here we had a visit from a baby deer, today Bobby from 22 News spotted a little weasel hanging out by the lake. These recreational amenities are important and my administration remains committed to continuing to improve and enhance the enjoyment of our beautiful parks systems and we are extremely proud to that we have invested over $100 million our city-wide park system over the past 17 years. Thank you to Parks Director Tom Ashe and team, the Board of Park Commissioners, and our many partners, as well as all who visit our parks, for your continued stewardship of our park system for the enjoyment of current and future generations.”

PRBRM Director Ashe states, “Parks are an important element for every neighborhood, they provide a respite from city life and offer an essential outlet for passive and active recreation. We are the proud custodians of our city’s 735 acre ‘crown jewel’, Forest Park, and remain committed to making various amenities and recreation opportunities available for our residents throughout the different seasons. We are excited to have folks come down and try the new Swan Boats. There are four boats and each seats up to four people. We will have our specially trained lifeguards on-duty down at Porter Lake and will provide life vests to all riders. I am extremely proud of our entire PBRM team, as it is their diligence and passion that create enjoyable and attractive parks. I would also like to thank Mayor Sarno for his steadfast support of our parks system, and the important outlet it provides for families.”

Summer Swim program opening in July at Forest Park and Gerena Pools

Splash into summer with the City of Springfield’s Summer Aquatics Program! City residents will have an opportunity to swim all summer-long for free at Forest Park pool and Gerena Elementary School pool.

The Forest Park pool will be open every day of the week from 11:00 am – 6:30 pm starting Tuesday, July 1.

The Gerena pool will be open to the public Monday – Friday from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm, also starting Tuesday, July 1.

City residents who wish to participate in free summer public swimming at the Springfield pools, and do not have a valid pool pass, must pre-register and then obtain a free photo ID. Each member of the family must have an ID card to swim. If you have access to a computer, go to www.springfield-ma.gov/secure/pools_reg.0.html and register.

Registration is open now! If you don’t have access to a computer, you can register to receive your pool pass, starting July 1, at the John Shea Bright Nights Building, by the entrance to Forest Park, from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. This is also where you can come in to take your photo and receive your pass. We have to accommodate all of our residents, so waiting lines might be curtailed early to ensure that we finish registration on time.

06/26/2025

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Director Tom Ashe and team, Department of Capital Asset Constriction Director Pete Garvey and team, city and state officials, and neighborhood council representatives joined on Thursday morning at Gurdon Bill Park for the grand opening of the new Springfield Bike & Skate Park.

Gurdon Bill Park, located at the corner of Liberty Street and Genesee Street in the Lower Liberty Heights neighborhood, has been transformed into an age-friendly inclusive community park that includes a splash pad, swings, and a 12,000 square foot skate and bike park for wheeled recreation like skateboards, BMX bikes, inline & roller skates, scooters and accessibility equipment. Motorized equipment is prohibited. Mayor Sarno, city, state, and local officials were thrilled to come together to unveil Springfield’s first public skate and bike park.

State Representative Carlos Gonzalez, City Council President Mike Fenton, City Councilor Kateri Walsh, City Councilor Tim Allen, Matthew McAndrew from Congressman Neal’s Office, Lamari Jackson on behalf of State Senator Adam Gomez, Lower Liberty Heights Neighborhood Council President Gladys Rivera, longtime Lower Liberty Heights Neighborhood Council member Teofilo ‘Teddy’ Alvarado, Robert McCarroll, Juanita Martinez and members of the Community Preservation Committee, Deborah Huber from WalkBike Springfield, Springfield skate and bike community advocate and CPC member Yolanda Cancel, representatives from Theory Skate Shop, GZA contractors who worked on the park design, Mass West Construction who helped build the park, and Pillar Design Studio who worked on the bike & skate park elements design, along with many supporters all joined on Thursday morning at the park for the special ribbon cutting ceremony.

Mayor Sarno states, “Youth development is very near and dear to my heart, emanating from my days as Executive Director of the old South End Community Center. I am proud to state that no administration has done more for youth development and education than my team. Between nearly $1 billion of newly built and rehabbed schools – the most in the Commonwealth, to well over $110 million invested in our parks system, financial support for our community centers and non-profits, to a new South End Community Center, new East Forest Park Library, 5 new athletic turf fields, a new ECOS Center, new spray-scapes, a new Camp Star Angelina, and now a new state of the art Bike and Skate Park. Thank you to my city team, and those who assisted and advocated with my administration to ‘get the job done!’ We are very excited to unveil the new Skate & Bike Park, and hey maybe we have the next Tony Hawk in our midst too!”

The development of Gurdon Bill Park has been a collaborative project between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts/National Park Service Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant program and the City of Springfield.  The Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant program is a federal National Park Service grant that is administered by the State’s Office Energy & Environmental Affairs.

The Springfield Park Commission unanimously approved a feasibility study to determine the location of the Skate and Bike Park project which was conducted with input from the Springfield community.  An $80,000 grant from the Community Preservation Act funded the study, and initial design grant of $18,500 from Community Development Block Grant program helped secure a major Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. The City of Springfield matched the $1 million LWCF grant, with the total project cost just above $2 million.

Mayor Sarno continued, “Thank you to our dedicated city team for your continued efforts in enhancing and improving the quality of life throughout our city with park and pedestrian safety projects taking place in nearly every neighborhood. Projects such as this are made possible thanks to the collaboration of many departments.  Thank you to our PBRM team previously under Director Patrick Sullivan who was instrumental in working with our neighborhoods to apply for and secure the grants for this project, and now under Director Tom Ashe, along with City Forester Alex Sherman, and thank you to our Department of Capital Asst Constriction led by Pete Garvey, Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan, Deputy Director Tina Quagliato Sullivan, DPW Director Chris Cignoli and team, and also a shout out and thank you to the Community Preservation Committee for funding the study, the Park Commission, who voted unanimously to pursue this project and funding, and to our dedicated neighborhood councils and community organizations WalkBike Springfield, ReGreen Springfield, the Lower Liberty Neighborhood Council, and Springfield’s skate and bike community. We are also grateful to the Healey-Driscoll administration for their continued belief and investment in our parks and to Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper and team for selecting our Springfield project. I also want to thank Congressman Richard Neal – once a mayor always the heart of a mayor – as well as the National Park Service for their support of our city through this grant assistance program.”

As a component of the LWCF grant, redevelopment of Gurdon Bill Park aims to help mitigate heat island effects for city residents and to incorporate climate resilient design elements where appropriate.

Congressman Richard Neal stated, “This year marks 60 years since Lyndon Johnson signed the Land and Water Conservation Act into law. One of many landmark legislative achievements of the Great Society, it underscored the importance of investing in green spaces, particularly in urban living. Having been an ardent supporter of the Great American Outdoors Act, which permanently authorized funding for the LWCF, I am pleased that this project received $1 million in federal funding. I applaud Mayor Sarno, Springfield Parks Director Tom Ashe, and the entire team at the Parks Department for being great stewards of our city’s green spaces. This is a terrific addition to the Springfield parks system and a fitting tribute to the Bill family and those who laid the foundation for our city’s magnificent 200-year-old park system.”

Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management Tom Ashe states, “Thanks to the leadership and support of Mayor Sarno, we have now invested over $110 million dollars in our parks over the past 17 years. This Bike and Skate Park project here at Gurdon Bill Park has been part of the Mayor’s and Park Department’s vision for many years and we are thrilled to share that it is complete and ready for skaters and bikers to come and utilize. Not only have we constructed the city’s first public skate park, Gurdon Bill now offers accessibility and pedestrian improvements, a splash pad, swings, tree ID tags in the Arboretum area, and improved parking, making it a great family park. Thank you to Mayor Sarno, Congressman Neal, our Park Commissioners, my Parks team, our residents, and to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the National Park Service for your support of this project and our parks system.”

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Tom Ashe, Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreational Management, cheered on the 3rd annual Westfield Starfires Summer Classic Baseball Game presented by Wellpoint at the newly upgraded Walker Memorial Grandstand baseball field at Forest Park on Sunday, June 22, 2025. 

Prior to the Summer Classic game on Sunday, the Westfield Starfires, who play in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL), hosted a free baseball clinic for area youth and had family-friendly activities including live music from the Frank Manzi Band. White Lion Brewing and Palazzo Café were also on site.

Mayor Sarno threw out the ceremonial first pitch.  

Mayor Sarno stated, “Summer Classic Baseball is returning to our beloved and historic Forest Park! The last few year’s Summer Classic games/events were tremendous and it reminded me of the old days of Sunday afternoon baseball in the park. This year our Walker Grandstand has seen some major renovations and we now have a home-run fence!”

“I want to thank Westfield Starfires owner Chris Thompson and his team for holding their summer classic game for the third time at our iconic Walker Grandstand here in Forest Park. I’d like to also thank Dave Morales and Wellpoint, Ray Berry & White Lion Brewing, and our Parks Department team led by Tom Ashe for all their support efforts too.”

Mayor Sarno continued, “This family-friendly game kicked off with a variety of pre-game events for kids and families of all ages, including a clinic hosted by the players and music by Frank Manzi Band. It was a great game for everyone, especially our young families to come on out and see how great these athletes are and learn from them too at the free skills clinic.”

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Police Superintendent Larry Akers, Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi, and Tom Ashe, Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreational Management, joined with Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt and team for a special announcement on this year’s Star Spangled Springfield 4th of July Celebration held at Riverfront Park with family-friendly festivities kicking off at 6pm.  There will be face painting, balloon artists, food, vendors and live music as we celebrate our Nation's 250 birthday.  

Fireworks will begin around 9:30pm and will go off the Memorial Bridge thanks to the team from Grucci.  

Mayor Sarno states, “I want to thank Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt and her dedicated team, and all of our sponsors and supporters for working together to once again put on our beloved Star Spangled Springfield for our residents.  This 4th of July fireworks display shows the resiliency, hope, faith, and strength of our residents and business community of Springfield.  It is a great celebration that I look forward to with my family each year. Again, many thanks to Judy Matt, all our generous benefactors, especially MassMutual and my dedicated city departments for making this family-friendly event a wonderful and uplifting occasion.”

06/17/2025

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Tom Ashe and team joined today at Forest Park inside the Monkey House to share this year’s line up and schedule for both the city’s “Movie’s in the Park” and “Concerts in the Park” summer event series.

This annual tradition of free public summer entertainment is a great family friendly activity, to enjoy outdoors in our beautiful parks.

The “Movies in the Park” series is the city’s annual summer public movie nights being held in neighborhood parks throughout Springfield with popular family movies being shown on the giant inflatable screen. This year Moana 2, The Wild Robot, and Paddington in Peru will be featured on the giant screen on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights at 8:30 p.m. at park locations throughout the city. The Movies in the Park series provides an opportunity for the whole family to be together under the stars and enjoying time together while watching the big screen. Bring your favorite movie snack and come have a good time! See the full 2025 Movies in the Park schedule.

The Forest Park Summer Concert Series/Concerts in the Park are live music concerts hosted by Springfield Parks Department on Thursday evenings at the Forest Park Amphitheater. Bring a lawn chair, blankets, and snacks! A new feature this year, the Concerts in the Park events will also offer food and beverage trucks. Those attending the concert may enter Forest Park through the Sumner Avenue or the Route 5 entrances for free after 5:00 p.m. on the evenings of the concerts. See the full schedule of 2025 Concerts in the Park performances.

Mayor Sarno states, “I am thrilled to have our beloved movies and concerts returning to our parks. My administration remains committed to enhancing the enjoyment of our beautiful parks systems, and this year’s lineup will bring a lot of enjoyment to family and friends. Forest Park is especially beautiful this time of year and these free, family-friendly movies and concerts are an opportunity to get outside and enjoy the park together. I am so appreciative on PBRM Director Tom Ashe and team for their continued dedicated stewardship of our park system for the enjoyment of current and future generations of Springfield residents.”

06/16/2025

– Westfield Starfires Summer Baseball Classic returning to Forest Park June 22! –

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Congressman Richard Neal, Parks, Buildings, and Recreation (PBRM) Director Thomas Ashe, and Department of Capital Asset Construction (DCAC) Peter Garvey joined on Monday, along with Westfield Starfires GM Chris Thompson and Government Relations Director for Wellpoint insurance Michael Vazquez to unveil the completed $4 million major renovations to the historic Walker Memorial Grandstand baseball stadium and diamond located inside Forest Park.

Upgrades to the historic and iconic Walker Memorial Grandstand baseball stadium facility at Forest Park include improved seating, a new roof, the dugouts and stadiums are now with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA), and the field now has a home-run fence, helping to -establish a comfortable atmosphere for the many baseball games played at this field. Funding for the renovations is made possible by a $3 million Federal Community Project Funding Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and $1 million from the City.

Mayor Sarno states, “Having played more than a few games here as an old catcher that ‘wore the tools of ignorance,’ whether it was in the sandlots, high school, or legion ball, it was a big deal ‘you felt like you were playing in the big leagues!’ Parks Director Tom Ashe and I are grateful for the efforts of Congressman Neal, who once a mayor always the heart of a mayor, in securing these vital federal grant funds. Shout out and thank you to Pete Garvey and the Capital Asset team for keeping the ball rolling on this. The improvements are a welcome addition to Forest Park and will serve the residents of Springfield and surrounding communities, and draw in visitors too.”

Mayor Sarno continued, “We are very excited to bring some life back to this iconic stadium. This stadium is big part of Springfield history and we will proudly honor Garry Brown here too. The new scoreboard will be named in honor of the late legendary sports journalist Garry Brown. Garry was known for his unique talent of never letting us forget our past by tying it to our present and future. It was a big deal to be featured in his Wednesday, “Hitting to all Fields” column.”

In addition to unveiling the renovations, the Westfield Starfires, of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL), announced their free Summer Classic game coming up at the Walker Grandstand on June 22nd, with special activities including the free baseball clinic, live music, and more! This free family event is sponsored by Wellpoint.

“This Sunday’s Summer Classic game with the Westfield Starfires is the perfect opportunity to see the upgrades and take in a great day of baseball and family fun. I want to thank Westfield Starfires owner Chris Thompson and his team for holding their summer classic game for the third time here in Forest Park. This family-friendly game will kick off with a variety of pre-game events for kids and families of all ages, including a clinic hosted by the players – what an incredible opportunity to learn from young professionals! Plus this is an affordable family outing, special thank you to Wellpoint General Manager Dave Morales Mike Vazquez for their support and sponsoring this day of free activities.” stated the Mayor.

Mayor Sarno added, “Being over at Walker Grandstand always reminds me of the old days of Sunday afternoon baseball in the park. I was so surprised and happy today to run into my old friend Vinny Maratea, a fellow catcher in our high school days. Growing up, playing ball and being involved in sports, you make many great memories and lifelong friends.”

From 1978-1981 our Springfield high school D1 Inter-city League catching line up included Vinny Maratea at Tech High coached by the legendary Howie Burns, Todd Ezold over at Classical who went on to play some minor league ball and is a great golfer too, Ed Kenney at Cathedral, Chooch Mascaro at Putnam, and Mayor Domenic Sarno himself for the High School of Commerce.

6/13/25

5/30/25

Mayor Sarno and Parks Director Ashe announce return of Paddle Boats to Forest Park’s Porter Lake this Summer! 

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Thomas Ashe, and Aquatics Director Joe Federico and team joined on Friday morning at Forest Park to announce the return of a beloved recreational pastime to Porter Lake inside Forest Park this summer: paddle boats! At Forest Park’s Porter Lake, the city will once again offer pedal-style Swan Boat rentals this summer. 

Beginning in early July, on Saturdays and Sundays between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., visitors to Forest Park will be able to enjoy a ride around Porter Lake in a four-seater Swan pedal boat. Pedal Boats are first-come, first-served and can be used for half-hour rides on the lake for a $5 per boat rental fee. Specially trained lifeguards will be on duty and flotation devices will be provided for boat passengers.

Mayor Sarno states, “So many of us cherish fond memories of spending time at Forest Park with family and friends – for me growing up, parks, especially Forest Park, were my ‘Riviera.’ We are excited to be able to offer another fun way to experience the beauty of Forest Park with this recreational boating experience, that has a history here on Porter Lake dating back nearly a hundred years. My administration is committed to continuing to improve and enhance the enjoyment of our beautiful parks systems and we are extremely proud to that we have invested over $100 million our city-wide park system over the past 17 years. Thank you to Parks Director Tom Ashe and team, the Board of Park Commissioners, and our many partners for your continued stewardship of our park system for the enjoyment of current and future generations - like the students participating in ECOS that we had the pleasure of seeing today. We had a great moment taking in the sight of a baby fawn." 

PRBRM Director Ashe states, “Parks are an important element for every neighborhood, they provide a respite from city life and offer an essential outlet for passive and active recreation. We are the proud custodians of our city’s 735 acre ‘crown jewel’, Forest Park, and remain committed to making various amenities and recreation opportunities available for our residents throughout the different seasons. I am extremely proud of our entire PBRM team, as it is their diligence and passion that create enjoyable and attractive parks. I would also like to thank Mayor Sarno for his steadfast support of our parks system, and the important outlet it provides for families.”

“We encourage everyone to continue to enjoy their parks, and if you have not visited Forest Park in a while you will notice some improvements like the major Monkey House renovations, the installation of the historic-replica Forest Park picnic pavilion and enhanced picnic grove, the beautiful restoration of the historic Trolley Gazebo right at the main entrance, soon the completed Walker Grandstand, and now the return of pedal Swan Boats on Porter Lake. However, as we were reminded today, nothing beats the experience of being so close and connected to undisturbed natural beauty – we were very fortunate to catch glimpse of a week-old baby deer who was peacefully curled up in a patch of long grass enjoying our announcement today.”

5/29/25

Mayor Sarno, Schools Superintendent Dr. Dinnall, PRRM Director Ashe, and Putnam Principal George Johnson join to unveil new Putnam Football Field

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Superintendent of Springfield Public Schools (SPS) Dr. Sonia Dinnall, Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Director Tom Ashe, Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy (“Putnam”) Principal George Johnson and city and school officials joined at Putnam on Thursday to unveil the brand-new turf football field at one of the city’s largest high schools. Director of Buildings Jon Carignan, Assistant Superintendent Terry Powe, SPS Chief Financial Officer Patrick Roach, Athletic Director Dwayne Early, and Landscape Architect Anja Duffy were also in attendance. 

Mayor Sarno states, “The work being completed throughout our school buildings has had, and will continue to have, a tremendous impact on the learning environment. This is why we wanted to be sure to use ESSR funds to invest in projects with long-term benefits. This makes our 4th turf field along with the two at Central and one at Duggan – before my administration, we had none. We will continue to invest in our schools and work to provide the best learning environments possible for all our students. Something that was also very important to us was soliciting community input and input from our schools staff and administrations for ESSR funding priorities. When we approached Putnam Principal George Johnson regarding the best use of the school’s ESSR allocation, he knew exactly what the students wanted and needed at this location. We are proud to unveil this beautiful field, home of the Putnam Beavers and look forward to seeing students utilizing it as they continue to grow on the field and in the classroom.”

Since the new Putnam High School opened, there was a dream to have an onsite athletic field. During construction, infrastructure was laid in place which would later aid the construction of a new turf practice field. $2.1M of ESSR funding was used to fund the construction a new athletic field at Putnam High School.  Construction began in late June of 2024 and was substantially complete in the late fall of 2024 with final items wrapping up this past spring. 

The City collaborated with school officials and the project design team at GZA to develop a field design that now provides a high-quality practice space, which features state-of-the-art turf, a scoreboard, small seating areas, and advanced lighting and control systems, allowing the school sports teams to practice and prepare for games at a high school level.

The new field was constructed on the grounds of the existing Putnam High School, located on State Street, and is comprised of state-of-the-art athletic turf material. It also features a Musco adaptive lighting system with all necessary amenities to provide the ideal practice environment for high school athletics as well as physical education.

5/26/25

Mayor Sarno, SPS Superintendent Dr. Dinnall, PBRM Director Ashe & Facilities Team highlight HVAC upgrades in Springfield School Buildings 

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Superintendent of Springfield Public Schools (SPS) Dr. Sonia Dinnall, Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Thomas Ashe, Director of Buildings Jon Carignan, and SPS CFO Pat Roach joined with Principal Robin Sanchez at Warner School to highlight the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) upgrades and new playground at Warner, and school buildings throughout the SPS district. 

This group of school building projects represents the Sarno administration’s continued dedicated efforts to improving conditions in our public schools and enhancing the educational environment for our students and school community. 

Mayor Sarno states, "I want to thank SPS Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall, Parks and Facilities Executive Director Tom Ashe, Director of Buildings and Facilities Jon Carignan, SPS CFO Pat Roach and the team at Siemens for their efforts in upgrading and enhancing our schools.  These improvements will help our students and teachers excel both in and out of the classroom.  Warner is one of over a dozen school buildings that has undergone, or will undergo, HVAC upgrades. Upgrade work at Warner included Dual temp conversion, Automation, Building Envelope, Electrical Upgrade, Chiller upgrade.  I also want to highlight the new playground equipment that was installed at Warner for our students using much-needed ESSER funds." 

At 10 school sites, all existing original HVAC infrastructure was removed and replaced with a modern code compliant system that produces both heat and AC. The new equipment installed meets all of today’s modern standards for ventilation in school buildings. The systems feature high efficiency, condensing boilers, classroom unit ventilators, and air-cooled chillers. At approximately seven additional sites, the city replaced terminal units, including roof, rooftop units, and air handlers to provide gymnasiums with air conditioning.

5/23/25

Mayor Sarno tours Springfield’s Municipal Golf Course Clubhouse Renovations 

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined with City of Springfield Parks, Buildings, & Recreation Management (PBRM) Director Thomas Ashe, Department of Capital Asset Construction (DCAC) Director Peter Garvey, Veteran's Memorial Golf Course Manager Rick Lombardi, Franconia Golf Course Manager Steve Carle, and Veterans Golf Course Senior Greens Superintendent Anthony Kowal on Friday morning at Veteran's Memorial Golf Course, located on South Branch Parkway, to tour the completed Golf Course Clubhouse renovations. 

Both of clubhouses at the city’s two public municipal 18-hole golf courses, Veterans and Franconia, have undergone major, multi-million-dollar renovations. On Friday, Mayor Sarno and city officials toured the renovations at the Veteran's Memorial Golf Course Clubhouse and display the renovation work that was done over at Franconia’s Clubhouse as well. 

Park Commissioner Clinton Harris, Director of Open Space Pete Krupczak, Park Coordinator Tom Dougal, Senior Project Manager My-Ron Hatchett, and Project Managers Jessica Lugo and Seamus Warwick also joined to unveil the completed work. 

The renovations at our Veteran's Memorial Golf Course include replacement of the roof, new windows, new kitchen equipment, new finishes, new plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems. The restrooms have also been renovated for accessibility. 

The renovations at our Franconia Golf Course include replacement of the HVAC system, a new electrical service, new kitchen equipment, new finishes in the dining room, kitchen and a new curtain wall. 

Mayor Sarno states, “We continue to receive rave reviews about our two public golf courses, Franconia and Veterans – now the inside of both the Veterans and Franconia Clubhouse’s, which had not seen any major updates since they were built in the 1960s, will match the quality of the courses that my administration recently invested $1 million toward enhancing the quality of play for golfers of all ages and levels. Our public golf courses have been nationally recognized and are quickly becoming a hidden jewel in the region, while also offering some of the most affordable rates in the area.  Thank you to PBRM Director Tom Ashe and team for their continued efforts in maintaining these beautiful and affordable courses.  I’d also like to thank our Capital Asset Construction team under Pete Garvey for getting this project done. Just like our courses, the Clubhouse looks beautiful.”

Mayor Sarno added, “I’d like to give a shout out to Marcus Smith, a former student of mine at my old South End Community Center, who did all the audio-visual work for the Clubhouses – very proud to see him succeeding. Another shout out to the Springfield DPW Traffic team who was out there on South Branch getting work done on our new automated crosswalk pedestrian safety initiative. And thank you to our braved and dedicated SPD for keeping us all safe. Good health and God Bless.”

PBRM Director Tom Ashe states, “On behalf of the Department of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management, we are deeply appreciative of Mayor Sarno’s continued, and multifaced investments in our open spaces and recreational opportunities, including our two renowned public golf courses. With 70,000 rounds played at Springfield’s municipal courses each season, our courses and clubhouses are worthy of these capital investments into the open spaces and facilities. When our Veterans Memorial Golf Course hosted the USGA Junior Amateur championship-qualifier for the first time a few years ago, it was first tournament site in the country to sellout. We are proud to be known among visitors and locals for the quality of our public golf courses. I commend our Greens Crews led by Anthony Kowal, who do a phenomenal job in maintaining them, and all our staff who continue to make our public courses right on par with some of the private, less affordable options out there, while maintaining accessibility and a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for golfers of all levels.” 

Director of Capital Asset Construction Peter Garvey states, “I was thrilled to be part of this team and work to complete these major and transformative renovations at our two public golf courses, each with its own rich history. We are looking forward to seeing everyone enjoy the new Clubhouse facilities.”

About Springfield’s Municipal Golf Courses 

The 18-hole Veteran’s Memorial Golf Course in Springfield, Massachusetts features 6,350 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 69.3 and it has a slope rating of 121 on Bent grass.  Designed by Geoffrey S. Cornish, ASGCA, the Veteran’s Memorial Golf Course opened in 1964.

The 18-hole Franconia Golf Course in Springfield, MA is a public golf course that opened in 1929. Designed by John Van Kleek, Wayne Stiles and Geoffrey Cornish, Franconia Golf Course measures 6,213 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 118 and a 69.7 USGA rating. The course features 3 sets of tees for different skill levels.

Golf Course website: https://vets-franconia-golf.com/

4/18/25

Mayor Sarno and Parks Director Ashe bring greetings at Springfield Garden Club Annual Meeting & Luncheon at the Monkey House in Forest Park

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Parks, Buildings, & Recreation Management (PBRM) Director Thomas Ashe joined with the Springfield Garden Club (SGC) including President Janine Boland, for their Annual Meeting and special luncheon at the Monkey House in Forest Park on Friday.

Mayor Sarno and Director Ashe appreciate the support of Springfield Garden Club and their generosity toward the Horticulture and Learning Center project in Forest Park. They were honored to join the SGC celebrating a year of success, growth and friendship. 

Mayor Sarno stated, “I always enjoy visiting with our Springfield Garden Club and celebrating the many positive accomplishments we have done throughout our beautiful parks system, especially for our historic and iconic Forest Park. Thank you for welcoming us to your annual meeting. We are proud of our continued collaboration toward the Horticulture and Learning Center and expansion of our flower shows with the SGC which and draws hundreds of people to the Park from across New England. Their upcoming Plant Sale held here in Forest Park at the Monkey House will also be a wonderful showcase of the Garden Club’s beautiful artistry.” 

The Springfield Garden Club will hold it’s Annual Plant Sale Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 9 am to noon in Forest Park, 300 Sumner Avenue, Springfield MA in the old Monkey House.

A spring tradition and the Club’s major scholarship fundraiser, this is not the kind of plant sale that focuses on re-selling plants from wholesale growers. Except for a few donations from generous area garden centers, these plants are from members’ gardens or have been grown from seed specifically for the sale.

Th Annual Plant Sale is a major fund raiser for the SGC scholarship program and a lot of fun for club members and our customers alike. SGC LOVES to talk about the plants they are offering and, with many experienced gardeners and Master Gardeners among the members, they can offer useful suggestions on which plants to buy or answers to some of your gardening questions.

Learn more on the Springfield Garden Club website: https://www.springfieldgardenclubma.org/home

5/16/25

Mayor Sarno and Parks, Buildings, & Recreation Managment Director Ashe join with Springfield Parks & Recreation team for special appreciation luncheon

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “PBRM Director Tom Ashe and I wanted to thank our dedicated parks, facilities and forestry employees for their continued efforts day-in and day-out.  These employees do a tremendous job for our city, taking care of our neighborhood parks and open spaces, our municipal buildings and our trees, and their efforts are deeply appreciated. Our dedicated PBRM team works closely with many dedicated partners like our Springfield Police, Jackson Security, ROCA, and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department to ensure our parks are a safe place to visit with our families. Tom and I wanted to say thank you, and recognize those who continue to support or parks, including Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers, Robert Cee Jackson, Soloman Baymon, and Sheriff Nick Cocchi. The little things mean a lot, and although our residents and businesses may not always see them and their work, they are valued and appreciated.”

The Parks Department also surprised Mayor Sarno with an appreciation award and thanked him for is continued support of our beautiful parks system and entire PBRM department.

5/12/25

Mayor Sarno, City & State officials join Parks Commission for unveiling of the Stone Soul Founders Monument at Blunt Park 

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Police Superintendent Akers, State Rep. Bud Williams, and city & state officials joined with the Parks Commission, including retired Park Commissioner, Stone Soul Co-Founder, & Stone Soul Festival Executive Committee Program Chair Jerald “Jay” Griffin, Sr., along with the Stone Soul Monument Honorees for a special unveiling and dedication ceremony for the new Stone Soul Founders Monument at Blunt Park. 

The Stone Soul Festival began in 1989 as a community reunion picnic aimed at gathering together the Mason Square Community. It has since evolved into a three-day festival, which includes the Stone Soul Festival parade kicking-off at Rebecca Johnson School and making its way to the site of the festival at Blunt Park where festival activities continue with food, music, dancing, and family fun entertainment.  It has become New England's largest African American Festival and will celebrate its 36th festival this summer. 

Last summer, during the Stone Soul Festival at Blunt Park, Mayor Sarno, PBRM Director Ashe, and the Park Commission held a special dedication ceremony at the Blunt Park Pavilion to honor the founders and members of Springfield’s Stone Soul festival including Jerald “Jay” Griffin Sr. 

The Jay Griffin Pavilion at Blunt Park was dedicated on Saturday, August 31, 2024 to Jerald “Jay” Griffin Sr. and a commentative monument stone was placed there to honor Mr. Griffin and all the founders of the Stone Soul festival. 

The unveiling of the names of each of the festival founders as well as the Emancipation Proclamation, an important part of Black history in this country took place on Saturday at the monument located at Blunt Park near the Pavilion. 

The Monument Dedication celebration on Saturday reflected the many levels of support Stone Soul, and the Mason Square community has received over the years. During the installation and dedication of the Stone Soul Monument, individuals who have made Stone Soul possible throughout the years will also be honored. 

Mayor Sarno stated, “The Stone Soul Festival, founded over three decades years ago by my old family friend Jay Griffin, is a staple in our community. We are proud to continue to support the Stone Soul festival, which is also one of New England’s largest African-American festivals known for the great entertainment and atmosphere each year at our Blunt Park.” 

He continued, “In addition to supporting this treasured community event, we continue to honor the rich history of Springfield’s Stone Soul Festival with special recognition for the founders and all who help make this festival a success year after year. Special thank you to retired Park Commissioner and longtime community champion Jerald “Jay” Griffin Sr. ‘the Godfather of Stone Soul.’ Jay cares deeply for our community and has been a continuous positive force for our Springfield for decades. It is so meaningful to be able to honor and recognize Jay while he is still here with us to ‘receive his flowers.’ With the installation of “Jay Griffin Way,” last year on Quincy Street where Jay grew up the “Jay Griffin Pavilion” here at Blunt Park, Mr. Griffin’s work to bring our community together will continue to be an example for future generations.”

Today, on Earth Day, our Springfield Parks Department team—alongside the skilled members of our Horticulture Crew—teamed up with students and staff from Springfield International Charter School for a collaborative effort in Forest Park. A big thank you to SICS for joining us. Happy Earth Day!

What an amazing time we had at our 'Fabulous February' event at the ECOS building this past Saturday, March 1, 2025! Huge thanks to our incredible partners for their hard work and dedication in making it a truly memorable event. We couldn’t have done it without you! 

Already counting down the days to next year’s event!

As we reflect on the 61st anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, we remember not only the tragic loss of a young leader but also the enduring legacy he left behind. Kennedy’s vision for a brighter future—marked by a commitment to civil rights, space exploration, and global diplomacy—continues to inspire generations. His call to "ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country" remains a timeless reminder of the responsibility we all share in shaping the world around us. Kennedy's leadership in moments of crisis, his ability to inspire hope, and his unwavering belief in the potential of the American people offer a model for future leaders. Though his life was cut short, his ideals and his belief in progress, unity, and public service continue to guide us as we strive toward a better tomorrow.