7-28-12 - Mission Statement

The mission of Save Cricket Field is to preserve Cricket Field as green space for the future enjoyment of generations of Needham residents. This iconic field has been a part of Needham's history for at least 100 years and it has been an active public park since it was gifted to the town in 1938. Containing a playground, fields, memorials, and open space, Cricket Field is one of Needham's biggest parks and the only large field in the Needham Heights community.  
A bit on the history of Cricket here
Several articles/editorials in the media:

ARTICLES:
03/28/2013
03/14/2013
02/13/2013
01/09/2013
12/06/2012
11/05/2012
11/02/2012
10/25/2012
10/10/2012
8/15/2012

POLL:
10/4/2012

LETTERS/EDITORIALS:
10/29/2012
10/27/2012
10/26/2012
10/18/2012
10/17/2012
10/11/2012
10/10/2012
10/4/2012
9/7/2012
9/1/2012
8/26/2012
8/17/2012
8/13/2012

PATCH DISCUSSION:
7/24/2012

NEWS 04-03-2013
Please remember to vote Next Tuesday, April 9th!

NOTE TO ALL CRICKET SUPPORTERS: The Planning Board is NOT associated with Cricket Field. Due to the ongoing debate that began on Candidates' Night, we chose to publish the candidates' official positions on Cricket Field's facebook page. However, our understanding is that the Planning Board does NOT play a role in determining whether Cricket Field will be the next site of Hillside School.

NEWS 10-11-12
More than 1500 Needham citizens have now signed the petition in support of Cricket Field!  If you have not yet signed the petition, feel free to sign online through the link below.

A recent Needham Times Poll asked Needham residents whether they would be willing to keep Hillside School at its current site despite the potential for increased costs. Poll results showed that 83% of Needham citizens were willing to pay more to keep Hillside at its current location. 

NEWS 9-20-12
A pre-feasibility report of the environmental conditions of Hillside School state that the approximate maximum price for remediation of the Hillside site is $771,000 (a relatively small amount considering the roughly $40 million dollar cost of the school overall).

NEWS 9-06-12
Town officials recently met with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and discovered that it is likely safe environmentally to rebuild Hillside at its current site and is also likely financially feasible.

Voices of Cricket Field

“THE CRICKET FIELD Dedicated to the use of the Inhabitants of the Town of Needham forever by the generosity and philanthropy of two esteemed citizens, William H. Carter, Frank W. Gorse” – Monument on Cricket Field

“In 1938, together with William H. Carter, [Frank Gorse] donated the Cricket Field to the people of Needham in the hope that his beloved game would continue to be played here.” – Chaim M.Rosenberg, author and historian, courtesy of Needham Historical Society

“Highlandville, (now Needham Heights), took on a completely different character with the migration of English knitters such as William Carter, Mark Lee, etc.in the 1850's. What started as cottage industries developed into large knitting factories that produced world famous knit goods. The presence of a cricket field reminds us of their legacy.” – Polly Attridge, archivist, Needham Historical Society, courtesy of Needham Online

“The Park and Recreation Commission strongly feels that Cricket Field is not a vacant parcel, and the loss of this neighborhood space would be a loss to the Needham Heights area that does not have much open green space. … Needham simply does not have the available open real estate, such as this park that it can consider eliminating without looking closely at the ramifications it will have on our Town and the immediate neighborhood. This is more than a cost issue. It’s a complete change to a neighborhood and to the student/youth athletes that utilize this space. Once this park is built upon, it will be gone forever.”- Michael Retzky, Chairman, Park and Recreation Commission, in a letter to the School Committee dated June 4, 2012

“I have spent 25 years growing up on and around Cricket Field and it has great personal meaning to me. It is where I learned how to play soccer and lacrosse. And I was lucky enough to play both of those sports on Cricket Field while attending Needham High. It is a place full of childhood memories for me, and I want others to have the opportunity to build their own memories there. It has been a valued part of my neighborhood and has great meaning for all those families that enjoy it. I would be sincerely heartbroken to ever see it go. Please do not consider destroying this field. It is a part of Needham's identity and a part of all of us who grew up here.” – Kristina Anderson

“There is no good reason to be tearing down a perfectly good school and ruining a decent park.” – John Wrynn

“In my youth I spent a great deal of time enrolled in and volunteering with the cricketeer program, and believe that Cricket field should remain a seperate public space. Unique in the Needham park system, Cricket provides a public space outside of school grounds … Cricket serves the community in a way not provided by other parks.” – Sam Watters

“My house looks out on the cricket field and for 54 years I have enjoyed the sporting events and other family uses. In addition, it is well maintained and very pleasing to the eye. It would be brutal to change the neighborhood now after over half a century.” – Morton Parker

Did you know:

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The Needham School Committee is considering relocating Hillside school to Cricket Field even though it is possible to build Hillside School on its existing site. Current plans to build Hillside School on Cricket Field involve paving almost a third of the green space (where the girls Varsity Soccer field now stands) to make a 95-car parking lot. The existing shade trees, tot lot, and much of the smaller field will be replaced with large administration and school buildings and a paved drop-off zone.   

Share your thoughts:

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Join our forum - where you can share your positive memories of Cricket Field and why you think the park should be preserved for creating future memories.

Learn More:

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While only a preliminary study has been done on various options for increasing space in the schools, Cricket Field appears to be one of the three finalists according to a recent Blog by the Superintendent.  Learn more about the current situation with the links below:

  • Read the Pre-Feasibility Study to learn about all of the options considered
  • Read the Superintendent's Blog for the most recent information
  • Click here for the Needham Schools homepage
  • Click here for the Needham School Committee and their contact info
  • Click here for Needham Parks and Recreation and their contact info

    Contact us here:

Vote in our Poll: