Charlie Breitrose
Hockey players can jump on the new rink at Casey Park through this door.
No you aren’t hallucinating if you see a hockey rink with a full set of boards at Watertown’s Casey Park.The Southside park has nearly completed a major overhaul, which included resurfacing the basketball and tennis courts, new lights and installation of a street hockey rink. Come winter, a sheet of ice can be laid down on the rink so people can skate and play ice hockey.
“We had three tennis courts but they were unusable – they were underwater when it rained,” Centola said.
Charlie Breitrose
The newly resurfaced basketball courts at Casey Park, including new lights.
Two of the tennis courts were improved and the third was turned into the new rink. Players can jump on the concrete or ice through a door in the boards, and sit on benches along the side of the rink. Instead of plexiglass like you would see at the TD Garden, a black chain link fence sits on top of the board to keep the ball or puck inside the playing area.
Charlie Breitrose
A forklift grabs the hockey goals that will go on the new street/ice hockey rink at Casey Park.
The much used basketball courts got a fresh surface and some new lights. The baseball field at the park also got some upgrades, and there are some new parking spots.
Centola had hoped to have the project finished last fall so the rink could be used in the winter, but it did not work out.
“It just game in too high and we had to rebid it,” Centola said.
The last few touches have to be made to the new features of the park, but Centola said it could be game on this week.
where is casey park?
Casey Park is South of the Charles River on Watertown Street (off Galen St). It is on the way to the Stop and Shop and Nonantum on the left side of the road. They have basketball and tennis courts and a little league field there too.