Petersen Splash Pad Under Construction at Watson Park

The opening is expected by the end of June.

Construction is underway on the Splash Pad at Watson Park funded by money from tugboat Capt. August Julius Petersen. The foundation is in at the eastern end of the park and water, sewer and electrical systems are being installed now, Recreation Director Nelson Chin said. The project remains on schedule and should be complete by the end of June. "It's coming along," Chin said. After Capt. Petersen died in 1963 and gave Braintree $65,000 for a pool at Watson Park, the funds grew to nearly $2 million and town officials fought to allow the pool to be placed elsewhere after some neighborhood residents criticized the original location. Two and a half years ago, Sullivan proposed placing the pool at the high school, partnering with a private …

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Riverwalk Along Watson Park Targeted for This Summer

The walking path will connect to Smith Beach in Braintree.

Final funding approval for a Monatiquot Riverwalk project will likely come within the next few weeks, allowing the town to begin work on improving and expanding the trail system at Watson Park from Gordon Road near the tennis courts to the Toland Walkway connecting to Smith Beach. The approximately $21,000 project was designed with the help of the National Park Service, which provided Braintree a grant in 2011 for free technical assistance. It involves fashioning a crushed stone path passing by the ballfields, the wildflower meadow, along the river and the site of the future splash pad. New benches will be installed and shrubs planted, and kiosks will dot the pathway, featuring information on local history and habitat, Planning Director …

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Town Working on Deal for Petersen Pool and Athletic Complex

At Watson Park, other Petersen money is being used this spring to construct a splash pad.

Delayed somewhat by the holiday season and difficulties getting together with one of the firms that bid on the Petersen Pool athletic complex, town officials will meet again later this week as they work on striking a deal to give a private company the ability to design, build and operate the pool and ice rink at Braintree High School and also receive preferential time for community and athletic team use. Two qualified bidders were identified by the town last fall, and a selection committee has met with one of the firms, Mayor Joseph Sullivan said. Committee members, including Town Council and School Committee representatives, will meet with the second company this Thursday. Under special legislation approved by lawmakers and signed by Gov…

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Braintree Little Leaguer Honored by Council, Worked Fenway Park with Ground Crew

A 6th grader at South Middle School, Galvin Erdody was honored by the Braintree Town Council on Tuesday night.

For the past few years, Gavin Erdody has arrived at Watson Park by 7 a.m. each Saturday, ready to help prepare the Braintree National fields for competition. Recently, that hard work really paid off. Before a Red Sox game on May 25, Gavin was invited onto the field at Fenway Park to help the grounds crew, an opportunity that Town Councilor Tom Bowes put together to thank the 12-year-old for his volunteer landscaping. "It was really cool being out there for the first time," Gavin said on Tuesday evening before being presented with a commendation by the Town Council. He might soon be back on the 100-year-old diamond, as grounds crew head Dave Miller said Gavin and his family could come back while the Red Sox are away for a tour of Fenway. …

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Travel Back in Time: Watson Park, Still a Jewel in East Braintree

The lighthearted days of summer evoke happy memories of Watson Park for a writer who grew up in the neighborhood.

Everyone was enjoying the parade of colorfully costumed kids, decorated bicycles and festooned doll carriages making its way down Arthur Street from the brick elementary school on Quincy Avenue. It was a beautiful Saturday in May and the annual Watson School Field Day was underway. Parents and grandparents, neighbors and friends cheered for us along the route, some clapping their hands while calling out our names, others taking photos with the “family camera.” The theme that year was growing your own garden and so for reasons otherwise unknown, except that maybe red crepe paper was on sale or left over from Valentine’s parties, I became a tomato for the day. At first this seemed like a good idea. With the aid of an industrial-strength …

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