BOSTON — The Glen Meadow Park Little League field and Lynnfield Middle School fitness room may be getting face lifts, thanks to a House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) who secured preliminary approval this week for $120,000 in funding earmarks for Lynnfield as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 House budget proposal.
The funding provides for $45,000 for the field upgrades and another $75,000 for a new fitness room at the middle school.
Little League Big Diamond/Fields Director Casey Paton said Lynnfield Little League is “super grateful” for Jones’ efforts in leading the way.
“We’ve always worked well with the town and have had the town’s support on many of the initiatives and improvements we’ve made, but having this state money really takes a big load off our organization so we are appreciative of Rep. Jones and other elected officials for their support on this,” Paton said.
Lynnfield Middle School Principal Stephen Ralston said the plan is to use the funds to convert unused locker space to storage space for physical education supplies and equipment, which opens up the space adjacent to the gym that currently is used for storage.
“That is the space that would become our fitness center,” Ralston said. “I am thrilled at the prospect of having such a center as part of the Lynnfield Middle School Wellness program. It’s long overdue.
Both Lynnfield earmarks were approved as part of a consolidated economic development budget amendment that passed the House of Representatives on a vote of 154-3 on April 30. The House engrossed its $61.47 billion state budget proposal later that same day on a vote of 151-6.
Jones noted that the funding for the Glen Meadow Little League field will support improvements to the infield and batting cages through a partnership with the Town of Lynnfield and Lynnfield Little League. Funding for the middle school will be used to convert unused locker rooms to a health center for students.
“These two earmarks will provide important recreational and health benefits for the town’s youths and middle school students,” said Jones. “I was happy to advocate for these important funding initiatives on Lynnfield’s behalf and will do everything I can to see this funding is retained in the final budget.”
Paton said he expects that work at Glen Meadow will begin in August.
“The plan is to do what we did at Newhall Park about three years ago,” he said. “The upgrades there resulted in an amazing field. We had hoped to start work in the spring and now, with the season in full swing, we felt it was better to wait so it doesn’t affect the season. By fall, we should have a great infield.”
One of the major problems that has adversely affected the usage of the field at Glen Meadow has been poor drainage, especially when it rains.
“Unlike Newhall, when it rains the water really builds up, so we are hopeful that will be fixed by regrading the infield to start with,” Paton said. “We’re excited to work with the town and DPW Director John Scenna, who have always been great. I’m really excited to see how the field works out. The funding will definitely take care of the field work and we’re still looking at options for batting cages. Hopefully, we can get that done too, which will be awesome.”
The budget process now moves to the Senate, which is scheduled to debate its own Fiscal Year 2026 spending plan the week of May 19. Once the Senate budget is passed, a six-member House and Senate conference committee will be appointed to negotiate the differences between the two proposals and produce a final budget that will be sent to Gov. Maura Healey for her review and signature.
