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Improvements to Harambee Park

Franklin Field | Park Established 1892

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Implementation of a multi-phased park renovation project. Features a new playground on the west side of the park, pathway, and lighting improvements throughout the park, and sports facility improvements.

Harambee Park, formerly Franklin Field, is an active recreation park with 45 acres of fields for a variety of sports. The park contains basketball courts, cricket pitches, multi-purpose soccer and lacrosse fields, a football field, little league field and play spaces. Boston Parks and Recreation completed a master plan in early 2016. The plan keeps the existing recreational uses, re-orients the fields for optimum solar orientation, adds pathways with pedestrian lighting, and introduces a new play area on the west side of the park along Blue Hill Avenue.

Timeline
  • Construction of Phase 1 (the new play space, basketball courts, and entrances) was completed in 2018.
  • Construction of Phase 2 (multi-purpose soccer and lacrosse fields, and pathways) was completed in 2021.
  • Construction of Phase 3 (football field and practice field) was completed in 2022.
  • Construction of Phase 4 (cricket competition field and practice field) has begun as of November 2023 and will be completed late summer / early fall 2024, with another year for the turf establishment period.

Harambee Park Phase 4 diagram

  • Still have questions? Contact:
    Parks and Recreation
  • Project location:
    Harambee Park
    930 Blue Hill Avenue
    Dorchester
  • Project contact:

    Amy Linne

    amy.linne@boston.gov

    617-635-4505

  • Project Information
    • Status: Construction of Phase 4
    • Project features: Two new cricket fields (one competition field with lighting, one practice field), bleacher seating, drinking fountain, pathway and lighting improvements, and new tree plantings
    • Construction budget: $2,083,000
    • Design Consultant: Weston & Sampson
    • Contractor: Fleming Brothers, Inc.

Project information

Westview Street CRICKET FIELDS
  • Project Status: Under Construction
  • Construction Budget: $2,083,000
  • Project Features: Two cricket fields (one competition field with lighting, one practice field), bleacher seating, pathways and pedestrian lighting
  • Consultant: Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc.
  • Contractor: Fleming Brothers Inc.
Westview Street Football Field
  • Project Status: Complete
  • Construction Budget: $2,600,000
  • Project Features: Football field improvements, pathway, and entry improvements
  • Consultant: Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc.
  • Contractor: Fleming Brothers Inc.
Talbot Avenue Multipurpose Fields
  • Project Status: Complete
  • Construction Budget: $3,060,000
  • Project Features: Soccer and Lacrosse fields, pathway and lighting improvements, entrance enhancement
  • Consultant: Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc.
  • Contractor: Fleming Brothers Inc.
Blue Hill Avenue Playground and Courts
  • Project Status: Complete
  • Construction Budget: $2,500,000
  • Project Features: New playground, court renovation with lights, pathway, and entry improvements
  • Consultant: Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc.
  • Contractor: Fleming Brothers Inc.

Upcoming meetings

Meetings

There are no related events available at this time!

Videos

Phase 4 Design Meeting #1 (October 19, 2022)

Project team presented plans for the cricket fields and the community provided feedback

Phase 4 Design Meeting #2 (January 19, 2023)

Project team presented the ideas of a pump track and dog park. The community provided feedback and insight.

Phase 4 Design Meeting #3 (April 26, 2023)

Boston Parks and their design consultant present community feedback on a potential dog park and pump track at Harambee Park, as well as an update on the Phase 4 plans.

Related documents

Documents
Harambee Park Master Plan Study Preferred Site Plan (May 2016)
Phase 3 Community Meeting 1 Presentation (November 4, 2019)
Phase 4 Design Meeting #1 Notes (October 19, 2022)
Phase 4 Design Meeting #2 Notes (January 19, 2023)
PHASE 4 DESIGN MEETING #3 PRESENTATION (APRIL 26, 2023)
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (MARCH 2024)
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE (JULY 2024)

Community meetings archive

We place information on upcoming and previous meetings in the public notices section of Boston.gov. We'll update this page with new meeting information as we get it.

Phase 3: Football Field and Walkways on Westview Street
Phase 2: Multipurpose Fields and Walkways on Talbot Avenue
Phase 1: New Playground and Basketball Courts on Blue Hill Avenue
Master Planning:

Harambee Park Master Plan and Implementation Phases

Past Process

A Master Plan was drafted in 2015 to inform future phases park improvements. A preferred site plan option was developed with community input and an eye to future open space need.

RELATED DOCUMENTS:

The scope of Phase 1 included:

  1. Basketball court improvements with new sports lighting.
  2. An exciting new play area on Blue Hill Avenue. The play area features a fully accessible mound and play tower, hill slides, climbing equipment, swings, and water play.
  3. Pathway and entry improvements to improve safety.
RELATED DOCUMENTS:

The scope of Phase 2 included:

  1. Improved multipurpose fields for Soccer and Lacrosse.
  2. Green infrastructure improvements to better control wet areas and drainage.
  3. Pathway and entry improvements to improve safety.
Related Documents:

Groups we're working with

Groups
Neighborhood Services
  • Still have questions? Contact:
    Parks and Recreation
  • Project location:
    Harambee Park
    930 Blue Hill Avenue
    Dorchester
  • Project contact:

    Amy Linne

    amy.linne@boston.gov

    617-635-4505

  • Project Information
    • Status: Construction of Phase 4
    • Project features: Two new cricket fields (one competition field with lighting, one practice field), bleacher seating, drinking fountain, pathway and lighting improvements, and new tree plantings
    • Construction budget: $2,083,000
    • Design Consultant: Weston & Sampson
    • Contractor: Fleming Brothers, Inc.
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