SAUGUS — Over the past few weeks, work has begun at Stackpole Field to remove the bleachers and the old press box, prompting many residents to share memories of the field online.
The field was inaugurated in 1938 and served as the home of Saugus High School sports until the final game there in 2021, a 28-6 victory for the Sachems. It’s also known as a site where Grown Ups 2 was filmed.
The field received improvements in 2019, when sod was installed to provide players with softer grass and reduce the risk of injury. In his announcement, Town Manager Scott Crabtree commented on the importance of the fields and the need for them to be in top condition for young athletes to play in the best possible conditions.
In May of 2025, during a Special Town Meeting, Town Meeting members voted to approve of an appropriation of $4 million for designing, constructing, repairing, and replacing parks and playgrounds in town including: Golden Hills, Stackpole, and Stocker.
During the meeting Crabtree noted the importance of funding the playgrounds to keep them safe with lighting and cameras to help police.
On Aug. 19, 2025, Crabtree mentioned finalizing the designs for Golden Hills and Stackpole, noting that they were seeking a single contractor to bid on both projects to keep costs down.
At the time, the town was also in the process of buying some of the equipment for the projects.
On Oct. 14, 2025 Crabtree met with the Board of Selectmen again for an informal goals and objectives meeting, where he announced that everything was ready to go out to bid.
“We hope to start, if the weather cooperates, to get some of the work done before the winter, but it would be a spring sort of completion and opening I think right as school is getting out would be the perfect timing,” he said.
Crabtree noted that the town had gotten input and stated that he “believes people will be pretty pleased.”
According to the bid made by the town, the project is looking to have site renovations on Summer Street, including but not limited to site preparation, grading, drainage, and landscaping.
The site improvements, according to the bid, include installation of furnished playground equipment, site furnishings, fitness equipment, and bleachers.
