SPRINGFIELD — The city of Springfield announced that three major neighborhood enhancement projects with a total combined budget of $1.7 million are officially completed.
According to an announcement from the city, enhancements and renovations were made at Kenefick Park, Calhoun Park and Hubbard Park to “provide recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.”
The city utilized various funding, including American Rescue Plan Act funding and Community Development Block Grant money, to finish the projects.
“The new facilities at Hubbard, Calhoun and Kenefick will provide youth, families and residents of all ages from these neighborhoods with state-of-the-art passive and active recreational opportunities,” Mayor Domenic Sarno said in a statement about the projects. “Parks are a vital part of our city and an integral part of our neighborhoods, and I encourage everyone to continue to enjoy them, especially with many new amenities.”
The most expensive project of the three was the Calhoun Park renovations, which included a total project budget of just under $940,600 for the installation of a new accessible playground, handball court, walkways, site amenities and tree plantings.
Thomas Ashe, the executive director of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management, told Reminder Publishing that the park’s renovations were completed in phases over a three-year period.
The basketball courts were the first to be finished, and then the rest of the renovations followed.
“Design and construction documents for the redevelopment of the playground, handball court, site amenities, walking path and landscaping was completed in 2023,” Ashe said. “Construction began in spring 2024 and was completed in October 2024. “
Another neighborhood project the city completed happened at Hubbard Park, which now has two tennis courts and two pickleball courts after renovations were finished.
According to Ashe, design and construction documents for that project were finished in 2022 through a Community Preservation Act grant.
The city, however, found that construction costs exceeded available CPA funding, so they turned to other mechanisms for covering those costs.
“The city, through Community Development Block Grant and American Rescue Plan Act funding was able to fund the construction portion of the project,” Ashe said. “On-site construction work for the reconstruction of the tennis courts into tennis and pickleball courts began in June 2024 and was completed in November 2024. “
Specific renovations included installation of new court surfacing, tennis and pickleball equipment, fencing and site amenities.
The Department of Parks, Buildings & Recreation Management received CDBG funding of $175,400 and a CPA grant of $164,979 for a total project budget of $340,379 to renovate the courts. According to the city, the CPA grant was achieved in collaboration with the Indian Orchard Citizens Council.
As for Kenefick Park, which is located in the North End Brightwood neighborhood, that recreation area underwent renovations encompassing new court surfacing, fencing, site amenities and equipment for the basketball and handball courts.
According to Ashe, the city completed design for the courts’ renovations at the end of 2023, and the project was bid for construction in 2024. Site construction then began in June and was completed last month.
The project, which was achieved with a total project budget cost of $361,269, was funded by ARPA money, according to Ashe.
“We are thrilled to unveil the renovations at these three parks and announce that they are each now open for residents to enjoy,” Ashe said, regarding the new renovations to all three parks. “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.”
According to the city, the playground and all the courts that were renovated are open daily from dusk until dawn.
Other projects
In his statement regarding the finality of these three projects, Sarno noted that the city is investing nearly $110 million into neighborhood parks.
“Our PBRM continues to do great work, and I deeply appreciate the collaboration with all of our neighborhood councils,” Sarno said.
According to Ashe, the city is currently actively working on approximately 13 projects using ARPA and CDBG funding.
He added that the projects are in various stages of design or construction and will be completed “as soon as possible.”
A list of ongoing neighborhood projects in the city are below:
- Adams Park
- Barrows Park
- East Springfield Terraces
- Five Mile Pond Park & Boat Launch
- Forest Park Picnic Areas
- Jaime Ulloa Park
- Linda Petrella Park
- Emily Bill Park
- Nathan Bill Park
- Angie Florian Park
- Ruth Elizabeth Park
- Blunt Park Phase 2
- Duggan Park Fencing
