Improvements to Harambee Park
Franklin Field | Park Established 1892
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.
- Design of Phase 4 is ongoing (cricket competition field and practice field), with construction expected to begin in late spring 2023.
Project information
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.
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.
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.
Upcoming meetings
MeetingsVideos
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
DocumentsCommunity 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.
- Harambee Park Phase 3 Community Meeting (January 14, 2020)
- Harambee Park Phase 2 Community Meeting (November 15, 2018)
- Harambee Park Phase 1 Community Meeting #3 (Jan 25, 2017)
- Harambee Park Phase 1 Community Meeting #2 (October 27, 2016)
- Harambee Park Phase 1 Community Meeting #1 (September 21, 2016)
- Harambee Park Master Plan Community Meeting #3 (February 23, 2016)
- Harambee Park Master Plan Community Meeting #2 (October 28, 2015)
- Harambee Park Master Plan Community Meeting #1 (June 3, 2015)
Harambee Park Master Plan and Implementation Phases
Past ProcessA 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.
- Harambee Park Master Plan Meeting #1 agenda (June 3, 2015)
- Harambee Park Master Plan Meeting #1 presentation (June 3, 2015)
- Harambee Park Master Plan Meeting #2 agenda (October 28, 2015)
- Harambee Park Master Plan Meeting #3 agenda (February 23, 2016)
- Harambee Park Master Plan Meeting #3 presentation (February 23, 2016)
- Harambee Park Master Plan Preferred Site Plan (February 23, 2016)
The scope of Phase 1 included:
- Basketball court improvements with new sports lighting.
- 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.
- Pathway and entry improvements to improve safety.
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Harambee Park Phase 1 Community Meeting #1 Agenda (September 21, 2016)
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Harambee Park Phase 1 Community Meeting #1 Flyer (September 21, 2016)
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Harambee Park Phase 1 Community Meeting #2 Agenda (October 27, 2016)
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Harambee Park Phase 1 Community Meeting #2 Presentation (October 27, 2016)
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Harambee Park Phase 1 Community Meeting #3 Agenda (January 25, 2017)
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Harambee Park Phase 1 Community Meeting #3 Presentation (January 25, 2017)
The scope of Phase 2 included:
- Improved multipurpose fields for Soccer and Lacrosse.
- Green infrastructure improvements to better control wet areas and drainage.
- Pathway and entry improvements to improve safety.
- Harambee Park Phase 2 Community Meeting Presentation (November 15, 2018)
