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
- More basketball courts for teensThe resident asks for more basketball courts so teens have more places to play basketball.2026–27City-wide
- Outdoor workout area at Curtis HallResident asks for an outdoor workout area at Curtis Hall for adults and children to improve physical and mental health.2026–27Hyde Park
- Fix Hennigan gym floor and air conditioningResident asks for repairs to the Hennigan gym floor and AC to keep the community center running and safe for visitors.2026–27Hyde Park
- Upgrade the Hennigan Community CenterResident asks for improvements to the Hennigan Community Center so it can offer more services to the community and low-income families.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- AC and new floors at Hennigan gymThe resident asks for air conditioning and new floors in the gym at the Hennigan Community Center to provide a safe environment and services.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- Hennigan gym AC, floor, bleachers and rat controlThe resident asks for gym air conditioning, floor repair, more bleachers and fewer rats at the Hennigan Community Center to improve the experience for users.2026–27Roxbury
- Hennigan gym bleachers, AC and floor repairsThe resident asks for bleachers, new air conditioning and floor repairs at the Hennigan Community Center gym so the community can benefit from its amenities.2026–27Roxbury
- Support Hennigan Community Center servicesThe resident asks for help for the Hennigan Community Center so it can keep providing services, safety, exercise and health opportunities for the community.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- Upgrade Hennigan gym floor and add ACThe resident asks for a new gym floor and air conditioning at the Hennigan community center, since many kids use it.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- More sports courtsThe resident asks for more courts, presumably for sports and recreation.2026–27City-wide
- Soccer fieldsResident asks for soccer fields.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Soccer fieldsResident asks for soccer fields.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Soccer fieldsResident asks for soccer fields.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Repair basketball courts near Orton Marotta WayResident asks for repair of the cracked paving, hoops and seating at the basketball courts across from Orton Marotta Way, where local youth play in dangerous conditions.2026–27South Boston
- Fix Hennigan gym floor and add air conditioningThe resident asks to fix the BCYF Hennigan gym floor, a safety issue for the many kids using it, and add air conditioning for comfort.2026–27Roslindale
- Fix Hennigan gym floor and add A/CThe resident says the Hennigan gym has no air conditioning and a damaged floor and needs help.2026–27Roxbury
- $2 million Hennigan gym renovationThe resident proposes about $2 million to renovate the Hennigan Community Center gym with new bleachers, flooring, equipment and air conditioning, giving youth a safe modern space.2026–27Roxbury
- Hennigan Community Center floor, A/C and paintingTranslated from Spanish: the resident asks for a new floor, air conditioning in the court and other areas, and painted walls at the Hennigan Community Center to improve conditions for all students.2026–27Dorchester
- Fix the BCYF Hennigan gymThe resident asks for repairs to the BCYF Hennigan gym so everyone has a safe place to play sports and access resources.2026–27Roxbury
- Renovate Hennigan gym with A/C, bleachers, dividersThe resident asks to renovate the Hennigan gym, which needs air conditioning, bleachers and dividers.2026–27Roxbury