By james art 
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal spoke outside the Walker Memorial Grandstand in Forest Park, which is currently under renovation. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Capital Asset Construction Director Peter Garvey and Parks, Buildings and Recreation Director Tom Ash also spoke at the press conference.
Reminder Photo post by Sara Heinonen
SPRINGFIELD — Construction noise filled the air in Forest Park during an Oct. 28 news conference with U.S. Rep. Richard Neal and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, but this spring those sounds will be replaced by the crack of a baseball bat and cheers from the crowd.
Neal (D-Springfield) and Sarno were joined by Capital Asset Construction Director Peter Garvey and Parks, Buildings and Recreation Director Tom Ash for an update on the renovations to the Walker Memorial Grandstand.
Garvey said the decision was made to renovate the grandstand rather than build a new one because of the structure’s “tremendous historical significance.” The grandstand is named after brothers Edward and William Walker, prominent Springfield businessmen in the early 20th century. William Walker left a trust for Forest Park, which was used to build the grandstand in 1948 after the previous structure burned down.
The renovation cost $4 million, of which $3 million was a federal Community Project Funding grant and $1 million was municipal funds. Garvey said the project is the grandstand’s first major renovation since it was built more than 75 years ago. “As you can see behind us, it’s not a day too early and not a day too late.”
Garvey explained that while the federal funding was announced about two years ago, the process associated with such projects is lengthy. A contract with EDM, a Pittsfield engineering and landscape architecture firm, was signed 18 months ago and the design took about six months to complete.
Then the contractor, Kronenberger & Sons Restoration, which specializes in the preservation, restoration and adaptive reuse of historic buildings, went to work. While the grandstand will retain much of its historic nature, it will be updated, with accessible bleachers, bathrooms and dugouts. It will hold 2,000 people as it was before the renovation.
Ashe called the renovation a “unique” and “magnificent” project and said it was his department’s responsibility to ensure the fields “match the beauty of Walker Stadium.” We really want this to be a marquee site.” He said the grandstand will be ready by late spring, shortly after the high school baseball season begins. “We’ll be working all winter,” Garvey added.
The field and bleachers are used by American Legion baseball teams, high school and college teams. The minor league Westfield Starfires have also played there.
Sarno and Neal remembered playing baseball on the field behind them. “It was always a big deal to play at Walker Stadium. That was our big league here,” Sarno said. “It’s great that we offer all these sports and recreation opportunities to the young people of Springfield,” Sarno said. He said there is a correlation between kids playing baseball and academic success.
“We will continue to improve the quality of life,” Sarno said.
Neal called the renovation a “delicious reminder of one of Western Massachusetts’ iconic baseball venues.”
The former mayor of Springfield said he was “thrilled” with the decision to name the dugouts after local sports journalist Gary Brown. He spoke at length about how Brown “chronicles our lives.” Sarno said the dugouts were chosen to bear Brown’s name because “that’s where Gary would get to the heart of his stories.” Brown died in 2022.
Neal spoke of the beauty and “emotional peace you get and a kind of serenity” of Forest Park, created in 1884, in part with land donated by philanthropists Everett Barney and Orrick Greenleaf. “I love these parks,” Neal said. “I’ve played every inch of them.”
The grandstand renovation is part of Forest Park’s Horticulture Master Plan, which also includes a new horticulture center, renovation of the Monkey House, replacement of the 1900 greenhouse, and upgrades to the Kennedy Memorial, baseball field, lighting, security and landscaping. In 2022, the master plan was expected to cost $12.5 million.
Neal said $3 million in federal funds will also be set aside for the planned horticultural center to be built near the John F. Kennedy Memorial. Sarno valued this project at about $6 million.
“We continue to pursue philanthropy, private donor funding and public money to continue the master plan and garden center. And sometimes there is a delta” that the city will fund, Sarno said. “My goal is to try to get what they do at Smith College when they have these flower shows. Why not have it here?’
