Newton Highlands Playground: Open For Business

NEWTON, MA — Newton Highlands Playground was in bad shape. Back in 2005 the parks and rec department deemed it the property in the worst condition in the entire city. Oh, but the possibility for that 13 acre plot. Fast forward a dozen years later, and with a ribbon cutting Friday, the new and improved Newton Highlands Playground is open for the business of fun.

Construction and renovation began last fall, primarily financed through Community Preservation Act funds, which are covering $2.5 million of the $3.2 million total cost. And then this fall the city completed the renovation, including baseball and multi-sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, a play structure, and walking trails. It's a big deal, said city officials.

“Local teams and our residents were unable to use this park due to the horrible condition of the fields and courts,” said Newton Parks and Recreation Commissioner Robert DeRubeis.

The Newton Highlands Playground hadn't been kept up throughout the years and though popular, had been underutilized due to its poor condition. It was a double whammy. Still it had a lot of possibility. It is near a school, a residential neighborhood, commercial properties, and in the N2 Innovation District.

The city began to reinvest in the parks across the city in 2010, in 31 renovated tennis courts and nine reclaimed fields during this time. The city’s fields and parks are now included in the annual Capital Improvement Plan, which means each year the city will take stock of the condition of the parks and needed investments for the future can be planned, according to the mayor's office.

“I used to play on those fields as a kid. Seeing this amazing transformation after all of these years is very exciting," said Ward 5 City Councilor John Rice.

The renovation of Newton Highlands Playground was a community effort supported by the youth sports leagues, the Parks and Recreation Department and Commission, the mayor’s office, the Community Preservation Committee, the City Council, the Highland Area Council, local community activists and neighbors.

“This celebration marks the largest park renovation the city has completed in over three decades,” said Mayor Setti Warren. “Newton residents will now have access to this great public resource, where they can walk, play, and enjoy both active and passive recreation.”

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Photos courtesy mayor's office.