Overview

The playground is a long, rectangular park located between multifamily houses on the north, Cypress Street on the east, the high school on the west, and the Main Gym and Kirrane Aquatic Center on the south.

A play area and spray pool are located at the bottom of the slope beside Cypress Street. A basketball court and bleachers stand beside the large multipurpose field. The fields are used extensively for high school sports, adult leagues, and youth sports. New playground equipment was installed in 1999 and 2000, with donations from neighborhood families and parents of children in the Brookline Early Education Program.

Park History

This site, along with the Brookline Avenue Playground, was one of the first municipal purchases for playground purposes in the United States. In 1876, the new property was filled with loam from the Fairmont Street (now Dudley) pit, and 30 young maples were planted. By 1880 the Brookline Athletic Club had built a track and seats for sport exhibitions. The playground was enlarged in 1886. Over the years, the property has been the site of many activities, including ice skating, track meets, baseball, and football.

Deed / Title / Restrictions

The town bought this land from William B. Craft for $45,878.50 in 1871 as public grounds to use, improve, and maintain for the public use forever, as and for a public square, park, common or playground, not otherwise.

Additional Information

• Category: Community Parks
• Size: 5.22 acres
• Protection: Article 97, National Register (eligible)
• Manager: Brookline DPW, Parks and Open Space Division
• Location: Brookline Avenue
• Precinct: 6
• Inventory Date: October 09, 2004, revised February 1, 2005
• Vicinity: Vicinity Bordered by multifamily houses, Cypress Street, and Brookline High School