Photo: James Rojas / WBZ NewsRadio
LAWRENCE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Athletics in Lawrence has a new destination that hovers above the Merrimack River with a raised turf field in the city's Riverwalk Innovation District.
"Field at the Pavilion" sits atop a three-story parking garage on Merrimack Street, with enough space to accommodate regulation-sized football, soccer, and lacrosse games just to name a few. A ribbon cutting ceremony held on Wednesday, officially opened the turf to high school and youth athletics for use.
Governor Charlie Baker attended the grand opening and told WBZ's James Rojas that the new field is a great use of space and a benefit to the larger community.
"It's incredibly creative, and I think not only is this a great day for the kids and families in Lawrence, this is going to be a great asset to everybody in the Merrimack Valley," Baker said.
Just in the field of view from the turf is the Ayer Mill Clock Tower, along with city vistas seen from the top of a 200-car parking garage. President of Lawrence Pop Warner Wascar Vargas and his youth football team the "Hurricanes," were one of the first to begin throwing the 'pigskin' on the new state-of-the-art-field.
"You can see all the city landmarks from up here, I'm sure when other towns come and visit and play against us— everybody is going to love it. Our next two home games are going to be right on this field," Vargas said.
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Developer Sal Lupoli said the field means so much more than just sports for the community.
"This is a message to dream big, this is a message that no matter what you think, anything is possible," Lupoli said.
The completion of the Field at the Pavilion is a milestone along the city's 20-year Riverwalk Project to redevelop the area around the former mill site.
WBZ's James Rojas (@JamesRojasNews) reports.
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