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.
295 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 31 | 2.5% | 17 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 123 | 10.2% | 3 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 141 | 10.6% | 2 of 20 |
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
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
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
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
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
With only 31 ideas, this cycle had a scattered mix of asks, including community centers, pools, running tracks, adaptive sports and the Chinatown gym renovation.
2025–26
Ideas rose to 123, driven by many near-identical requests for Hennigan and Marshall BCYF repairs, plus calls for pools and youth centers.
2026–27
Ideas rose to 141, with a large cluster on Hennigan gym floor, divider and air conditioning repairs, and new requests for soccer fields and wrestling space.
New in 2026–27
New or growing asks include wrestling and combat sports training space, more soccer fields, free outdoor fitness classes and equipment in parks, and added Allston asks for a pool and ice rink at Jackson Mann.
Funding so far
No winning projects funded by resident vote relate to this theme, so none of the recurring asks (gym repairs, community centers, pools, courts and fields, free access) has been addressed yet.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
No winning project has addressed this theme yet.
Departments that often lead this work
- BCYF
- Parks & Recreation
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Recreation facilities & sports
295 ideas
2024–25: 31 · 2025–26: 123 · 2026–27: 141
- Repair gym divider and floorResident asks to repair the gym divider and floor so the gym can be split into separate areas for multiple programs at once.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- Replace gym floor and dividerResident asks to replace the gym floor and divider so a good gym can help people of all ages stay active and healthy.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- Repair gym floor and dividerResident asks to repair the gym floor and divider to improve safety, make the space more flexible and allow multiple programs to run at once.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- Repair gym floor and dividerResident asks for repair of a gym floor and divider to extend their life and give children and teens a safe place to build teamwork and healthy habits.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- Funding for recreational sports leagues in parksResident asks for funding for recreational sports leagues in city parks to provide free, open public engagement.2026–27City-wide
- Temporary community center in Allston BrightonResident asks for a temporary community center in a storefront or other space in Allston Brighton while Jackson Mann Community Center is under construction, serving the diverse neighborhood.2026–27Allston
- Study sites for new public poolsResident asks for funding to analyze city and state parcels for new public pools, prioritizing underserved communities and transit access, as places to gather and cool off as the climate warms.2026–27City-wide
- Roped-off swimming area at Jamaica PondResident asks for a designated swimming area at Jamaica Pond so nearby residents, far from beaches by transit, have a legal place to swim and cool off.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- Keep community centers open on weekendsResident asks that all community centers stay open on weekends to give children, families and older adults a safe place to exercise and gather.2026–27City-wide
- Free or low-cost swim lessons at community poolsResident asks for free or low-cost learn-to-swim lessons and water safety education for children and adults at community pools so people of all incomes can access the skill.2026–27City-wide
- Active mindfulness and fitness options in RoxburyThe resident asks for programs introducing Roxbury residents to different forms of exercise and mindfulness, believing healthier people improve the community.2026–27City-wide
- More community centers in low-income areasThe resident asks for more community centers to be built in low-income areas.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Mini community center for youth and culturesThe resident asks for a small community center that welcomes youth and different cultures, bringing resources and equity to underserved areas.2026–27DorchesterSubmitted in Korean
- Build a skatepark for youthThe resident asks for a neighborhood skatepark that gives kids new hobbies and physical activity instead of being out in the street.2026–27DorchesterSubmitted in Korean
- Multi-use recreation center with food, gym and evening activitiesThe resident proposes a recreation facility with cultural food, a gym and evening social options to keep people in one safe place, aiming to build positive relationships and reduce violence and inequality.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Support Football Without Borders facilities and drug preventionResident asks for support for Football Without Borders facilities, drug prevention projects and new programs.2026–27City-wide
- More access to gymsResident asks for more access to gyms so people can come together.2026–27City-wide
- Weatherproof ping-pong and game tables in public spacesResident asks for weatherproof concrete ping-pong and game tables in popular neighborhood spots to encourage play and community activity.2026–27City-wide
- More parks and recreation centers for youthResident asks for more parks and recreational centers for kids and young adults.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Walking and movement groupsResident asks the City to create walking and movement groups like those previously funded by the Boston Housing Authority/BHC.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean