LYNN — At the Board of Park Commissioners meeting Tuesday evening, Lynn residents Cristobal Florencio and Eustaquio Juarez stood in front of the Board as Alexander Juarez Merida translated for his father, Eustaquio Juarez, to request use of G.E. Field or McManus Park for Liga Club Marquense adult soccer league.
The soccer league has been bringing the Guatemalan community in Lynn together and was run by Carlos Rivera until August 2025, when he unexpectedly passed away. Since 2002, the league has accumulated 300 Lynn residents, allowing 16 teams to represent the Liga Club Marquense.
Florencio and Juarez, who were family friends of Rivera, made it their responsibility to continue this community league.
“It’s basically to get their minds away from doing bad things like drinking or smoking,” Juarez Merida said. “They could just play soccer.”
With a motion from Drew Russo and seconded by Juan De Leon, the Board approved their request to use both fields on Sundays from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. starting April 5 and concluding on June 7. The Board will then renew the request, assuming that no other Lynn league will require it before October, in order to ensure fairness between all Lynn sports leagues.
The Liga Club Marquense league is just another example of the power of community and coming together despite an unfortunate loss.
“Everybody meets up at my dads house to take pictures and get to know each other.” Juarez Merida said, while Florencio and Juarez stood proudly.
Additionally for Lynn’s park and recreation activity, William Goldenheim, founder of North Shore Maritime Center Inc., proposed the use of Sluice Pond for a sailing program.
Goldenheim has played a large role in bringing rowing and kayaking to Lynn, allowing students to expand their interests since 2019 when he successfully founded the first school rowing team at St. Mary’s High School.
Next up on his list to better the Lynn community is sailing.
“At least for a few decades, this would be the first sailing program in Lynn,” Goldenheim said.
The request received conditional approval pending authorization from the Harbormaster. It would run for eight weeks and utilize boats generously donated by the Swampscott Sailing Program.
Whether through Sunday soccer matches that have connected families for decades or a new sailing program could introduce Lyn residents to the harbor for the first time, each request is centered on creating spaces where people can gather, stay active, and build community across the city.
