Recreation facilities & sports

Repairing and building community centers, gyms, pools, courts and fields where residents play and exercise.

Residents ask for safe, affordable and free places to play, swim and exercise, especially renovated gyms, pools, community centers, courts and fields.

Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.

Needs that keep coming back

• Renovate worn gyms and community centers

  Residents ask for new gym floors, bleachers, dividers and air conditioning, citing injury risk and heat. Hennigan in Jamaica Plain and the Josiah Quincy gym in Chinatown come up most.

  Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27

  2024–25: Refurbish Josiah Quincy school community center gym2025–26: BCYF Hennigan gym floor, bleachers, AC and divider2026–27: Hennigan gym floor, A/C, dividers and bleachers

• More and better community centers

  Residents want new, rebuilt or more community centers, often in neighborhoods such as Allston-Brighton, Dorchester and low-income areas, and often for youth.

  Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27

  2024–25: A community center in every neighborhood2025–26: Rebuild Jackson Mann Community Center2026–27: More community centers in low-income areas

• Public pools and swim access

  Residents ask for new or repaired pools, especially in Allston-Brighton, Hyde Park and Jamaica Plain, and for swim lessons that people of any income can afford.

  Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27

  2024–25: Walkable community pool in Allston/Brighton2025–26: Repair the BCYF Hennigan swimming pool2026–27: Pool in Allston/Brighton community center

• Basketball courts and sports fields

  Residents ask for more, better-kept and safer basketball courts and athletic fields, including repairs to cracked or neglected courts.

  Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27

  2024–25: Build more basketball courts2025–26: Improve courts and fields, keep lights on at night2026–27: More basketball courts

• Free or low-cost access and longer hours

  Residents want free or affordable memberships, classes and rentals, plus weekend and winter hours, so cost and schedules do not keep people out.

  Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27

  2024–25: More free community center memberships for youth2025–26: Youth center and YMCA membership vouchers2026–27: Keep community centers open on weekends

Departments that often lead this work

• BCYF
• Parks & Recreation

Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.