$2 Million for baseball

Fenway: Let’s not play ball
College wants to trade park fix-up for field time
By Thomas Grillo
Monday, November 10, 2008 - Updated 9h ago



Emmanuel College will provide $2 million to refurbish Roberto Clemente Field in the Fenway, but residents say the arrangement is a raw deal for the neighborhood.

The Menino administration is set to approve a plan that allows the college to restore the 6-acre park at Kilmarnock Street and Park Drive if the Catholic liberal arts school is guaranteed access for its students.

The city argues that the matching grant from Emmanuel and the Yawkey Foundation is good for Boston Latin and Fenway high schools, which need athletic fields. But some neighbors are opposed.

“We object to the privatization of a public ball field,” said William Richardson, president of the Fenway Civic Association. “If this is about playing fields for high schools, let’s figure out how to pay for the improvements. But the idea that Emmanuel donates cash and gets huge chunks of time is wrong.”

Residents say they would be prohibited from the park on weeknights - prime time for working people.

City Councilor Michael Ross said he was skeptical about the plan, but now supports it. “The park will still be available to the neighborhood and provide athletic opportunities for several high schools,” he said.

Sarah Welsh, an Emmanuel spokeswoman, said the project has widespread support in the community. “There’s been a 14-month public process and only two people are opposed,‘ she said.