Young athletes at the Yawkey Boys & Girls Club of Roxbury will now enjoy a safer, healthier and more playable baseball field thanks to a collaborative renovation effort led by Project EverGreen, ScottsMiracle-Gro’s “Keep It Real” initiative and members of the New England Sports Field Management Association (NE-SFMA).
The project marks Project EverGreen’s first GreenCare for Communities renovation in the city of Boston and continues the organization’s mission of revitalizing public green spaces that serve as gathering places for recreation, connection and community well-being.
A team of sports field management professionals from across New England volunteered their time and expertise to transform the aging field. The volunteers – many of whom manage athletic fields at schools, universities and sports facilities throughout the region – brought professional-grade knowledge and equipment to improve the playing surface for the thousands of youth who use the facility each year.
“Great fields do more than support play – they help athletes perform safely and communities thrive,” said Tom Barry, CSFM, of Greens Farms Academy and a member of the NE-SFMA Board of Directors. “This project is a meaningful way for our members to give back, applying their professional expertise to create a field that Roxbury residents can enjoy and be proud of for years to come.”
The renovation includes reshaping and leveling the infield, installing new bases, home plate and pitching rubber, adding fresh infield material, reinforcing high-wear areas such as the batter’s boxes and pitcher’s mound, and revitalizing the outfield through aeration, overseeding and fertilization.
For Project EverGreen Executive Director Cindy Code, the project represents more than just field improvements.
“Healthy green spaces create healthier communities,” said Code. “This renovation showcases the incredible generosity of the sports field management profession. NE-SFMA members are donating their time, knowledge and talents to create a better playing experience for local youth. Their commitment demonstrates how skilled professionals can make a lasting impact far beyond the facilities they manage every day.”
The project is also supported through ScottsMiracle-Gro’s “Keep It Real” initiative, which promotes the benefits of natural grass athletic fields for youth sports and community recreation.
“From reducing injuries with a softer, more forgiving surface to supporting overall well-being, real grass continues to outperform artificial turf where it matters most,” said John Sass, senior vice president of the lawns business unit and chief creative officer at ScottsMiracle-Gro. “That’s why we’re investing in natural fields for the next generation through ‘Keep It Real.'”
The initiative has already helped create improved natural grass playing surfaces for more than 2,000 young athletes nationwide, providing opportunities for children to play, develop skills and connect with their communities.
A Home Run for Cleaner Air
The benefits of the renovation extend beyond baseball.
According to Project EverGreen’s Clean Air Calculator, the 26,319 square feet of grass on the baseball field and surrounding trees sequester nearly 20,000 pounds of carbon annually in the Roxbury neighborhood. That’s equivalent to the emissions generated by driving an average gas-powered vehicle approximately 25,000 miles.
In addition to capturing carbon, healthy green spaces help cool neighborhoods, improve air quality, absorb stormwater and provide safe places for recreation and social connection.
Since launching GreenCare for Communities in 2008, Project EverGreen has renovated parks, athletic fields and community green spaces totaling more than 200 million square feet of living green space across the United States.
For the young athletes and families who rely on the Yawkey Boys & Girls Club, the renovated field will provide a safer and more enjoyable place to play while serving as a lasting investment in the health and vitality of the Roxbury community.
