Boston's Best Baseball Fields

When it comes to baseball fields in Boston, Fenway Park is the most famous. However, it is not accessible to the average family or amateur team that wants to play ball. Thankfully, the city is not without great fields that are open to the public. In fact, it is harder not to find a ball field in any given neighborhood than it is to find one, but some are in pretty rough shape. The following are fields that are family-friendly, maintained and accessible to all.

Boston Common
Tremont St.
Boston, MA 02116
www.cityofboston.gov

Tucked away in a corner of Boston Common is a fenced baseball field that is open to the public. It's one of the city's busier fields, but it has arguably the best location. It is within short walking distance of restaurants, Boston Public Garden, Frog Pond, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument and much more. For crowds of more than 50 people, players will need to apply for a permit from Boston Parks & Rec before Feb. 1 of that year. Casual play is no problem, as long as the field is free.

Related: Best Ways To Utilize Boston's Parks & Rec Department

The Fens is one of Boston's best public parks. It includes gardens and several options for athletes, including a track, basketball court and baseball diamonds. The park has two ball fields encircled by an all-weather track. This athletic field is dedicated to the memory of Major League player Alberto Clemente. Local schools use it heavily during the school day and baseball/softball season. However, it is open to the public like the rest of the park.

Franklin Park Playstead
Pierpont Road
Boston, MA 02119
(617) 442-4141
www.franklinparkcoalition.org

Like so many parks in Boston, landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed the Franklin Park Playstead. It's a bit different now than it was in his day, being home to two ball fields, basketball courts and tennis courts. However, the location is still an idyllic setting amid the bustling streets of Boston. Families can play ball, have a picnic, take a hike and even top the day off with a visit to the zoo.

The great draw of Spy Pond Field is its location. Nearby are the Spy Pond Park and Minuteman Bikeway, which has ten miles of paved path. The field includes a maintained baseball diamond, soccer field and tennis courts. The baseball diamond is used by local schools, but is not as busy as those located in central Boston. Getting field time is comparatively easy. In the summer, head over to Spy Pond Park after the game to cool off with a picnic.

East Boston Memorial Park
143 Porter St.
Boston, MA 02128
(617) 635-4505
www.gosuffolkrams.com

East Boston Memorial Park is an interesting option for playing ball in the city. It is both private and public, as home to the Suffolk Rams and as city property. A deal between Suffolk University and the city means half a million dollars worth of renovations to the park and ongoing contributions to its upkeep in exchange for regular use of the property. However, that means fields are not open to the public when they are in use for home games. The upside is a beautiful park for local schools and the public.

Related: Boston's Best Parks For Kids