Fields Corner Park

Bang! Smash! And shatters of glass breaking were all you'd hear from people fighting at the Town Field, which was constructed in the early twentieth century. Long ago young adults were the main problem that caused fights at Town Field. African Americans didn't walk around Town Field also known as Fields Corner Park or Gibson Playground, because it was dangerous and Whites would tell them they didn't belong there.

I interviewed the first African American (Arlene) to live on Parkman Ave in Fields Corner. Many weren't welcoming to African Americans as Arlene said. Crash! Crash! Crash! On a Saturday night in September 1976, Arlene heard someone violently pelting rocks through her window. Teenagers were trying to scare her away so she would leave. Arlene called the police but they couldn't help because she didn't know what the teenagers looked like. The people living in the neighborhood didn't accept Arlene and her family, but she still stayed because it was home. She would only avoid certain places. She had to deal with the struggles by driving her car mostly everywhere. In the 1970’s Arlene explained that gangs would hangout and drink in Town Field. It was a place to avoid unless you wanted trouble. In the park there was mental segregation. There were no signs that forbid Africans American to go to the park but they weren’t welcome. Whites wouldn't let the African Americans play at the basketball field so they would cut down the hoops. The park was re-constructed over time and new items were added, such as the baseball field. After different families moved into Fields Corner, it became more diverse and people became more accepting little by little. Now we have many nationalities surrounding Fields Corner today. Arlene helped to change the problem of people not accepting one another.

Now that time has changed, everyone is welcomed everywhere. From my perspective Town Field k is where you could go anytime of the day with family and friends. It's really protected for kids because nobody would cause a fight when everyone is around. While the wind blows swiftly through the air, hearing children chanting each other names, you feel the warmth of the family because everyone is joyful and spending time together. The ice cream truck music starts playing as we search our pockets for change. I hear kids crying when they fall down from the sky by the swings swaying back and forth. The swings glide back and forth while baseball is being played. Friends and family gather around to see who takes the victory home. Everyone is running and having fun. Parents relax and watch the kids play and have picnics together. It's a good place to watch the Dorchester Parade on the first Sunday of the week in June. You could cool down with the water fountains and shades they provide at the park. The atmosphere is surrounded by what Mother Nature gives and everyone is satisfied. Everyone from different cultures and nationalities are all welcome here.

However, there are issues that need to be addressed. In the future I would like Town Field to change a little because there are problems that need to be solved. I would like a water park with floats, so in the summer people could get wet and cool off from the sun. I wish in the future people would create disposable floors so if adults, teenagers, and kids litter it would still be clean. I would want the park to expand a little so more people would come and it won't be so crowded. There should be community services hours at the park to clean up litter. There should be recycling bins so we can recycle plastic, paper, and glass. There should be more benches that face each other so we can have conversations with family and friends. I would like for everyone to feel like they belong here for eternity.

By Shara Tran