City Putting $1.75 Million Into Local Parks

The City of Medford is planning $1,750,000 in improvements at four local parks, Mayor Michael McGlynn announced Wednesday.

The majority of the funds will go toward McNally Park, which will be redone, and Columbus Park, which will have its softball field completely revamped, McGlynn said. The rest of the funds, $300,000 in federal funds, will make Morrison and Hickey parks more handicap accessible.

Of the $1,750,000 total, $1.5 million will come from grants, according to McGlynn.

“We are very good at using other people’s money in order to improve our facilities,” the mayor said.

The city has applied but is still waiting on a $400,000 grant from the state Office of Energy & Environment to improve McNally. If the city’s grant application is denied, they will reapply again next year, McGlynn said.

In addition to the $400,000, the city is also putting in $225,000 toward McNally. According to the plans, the ball field at McNally would receive new dugouts and be renovated. There would also be a new walkway in the park, a new playground beyond left field and a new garden/open area beyond right field.

At Columbus Park, work is already underway on overhauling the softball diamond. The work is being funded by a $300,000 federal grant.

Medford High softball coach Jack Dempsey spearheaded the project, according to McGlynn.

The project will add outfield fencing and a warning track to the field, as well as foul poles, roofs for the dugouts, new bleachers, netting for foul balls, a batting cage/bullpen, storage unit, an electronic scoreboard and new flagpole.

The work at Morrison and Hickey is expected to be completed by the end of September.