SPRINGFIELD WWW.THEREMINDER.COM
JUNE 18, 2026 | FREE
City reopens Magazine Park, latest in park rehabs IN THIS
EDITION
By Sarah Heinonen
sheinonen@thereminder.com
Pride Parade returns to Springfield
On June 6, the annual Springfield Pride Parade took the streets once again.
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DA’s office issues nearly $120,000 to local nonprofits POSTAL CUSTOMER
Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s office distributed $119,700 to 32 nonprofit organizations.
Mayor Domenic Sarno uses the swing set at the new playground at Magazine Park. Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
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make sure every family has a place they can go.” He said parks are where children create memories. “That’s why we do what we do,” he said. “This was years in the making,” said Sean Johnson of the McKnight Neighborhood Council. Prior to the renovation, Johnson said the park playground was undersized for the number of children in the neighborhood. He said there are several day cares in the homes surrounding the park. Johnson said, “This is the beginning of the heart of downtown. It’s the easiest spot to stop without going to Six Flags,” he
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$2.3 million. One million dollars of that funding came in the form of a federal Department of the Interior Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, secured with Neal’s help. Ashe thanked Neal for “pitching in in a big way.” Springfield’s Community Preservation Committee awarded the project a $235,000 grant and the city filled the gap of $800,000. Ashe said Sarno has made neighborhood park renovation a major initiative of his administration, overseeing upgrades and renovations worth an estimated $120 million. “If you [had] a park in your neighborhood,” while growing up, he said, “you still have it in your heart. We
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and the money put into them are “an investment in people.” Of the several parks in Williams’ district, he said, “This one stands out. I’ve been fighting for 10 years for this park,” He added, “Magazine is in our heart.” Thomas Ashe, executive director of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management, said the park was a “total gut.” The renovations include a new accessible playground, a baseball field, two basketball courts, a spray pad, a paved walking path, a pavilion with picnic tables and park benches. A fence around the park and lighting make for a safer experience. The project’s total cost was
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SPRINGFIELD — It was a sunny, idyllic summer day in Springfield when U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Mayor Domenic Sarno and state Rep. Bud Williams joined residents to cut the ribbon on the renovated Magazine Park. Sarno described Magazine Park as being a refuge in the center of Springfield. The park is a few blocks from Springfield Technical Community College. Sarno often describes the city’s parks as “my Riviera growing up.” He recalled coming to Magazine Park when he was a student at the nearby High School of Commerce. “I don’t think there’s an inch of the parks system I didn’t play in,” said Neal. The one-time Springfield mayor said the parks look “terrific.” He recalled the history of the McKnight neighborhood, where he said titans of Springfield’s industrial past lived. McKnight Neighborhood Council President Walter Kroll explained that the McKnight Brothers were intentional about creating parks while they were developing the area. The renovations to the park provide more than new benches and a playground. Kroll said families were not safe in the park. While the neighborhood council had originally asked for minor upgrades, he said the Parks Department devoted effort and money to creating a new, safe space for McKnight’s families. Williams said parks are “an escape for a lot of young people”