NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city will celebrate the nation's birthday with the opening of its long-awaited splash park at Noel Field Athletic Complex. 

 

The formal opening will include a ribbon cutting on Thursday, July 4, at 11 a.m. 

 

The event, and all programming at Noel Field, is free and open to the public. 

 

"With a hot, sunny day in the forecast for Thursday, I'm excited to welcome North Adams residents — especially our young people — to this new facility," said Mayor Thomas Bernard. "It will be a great way to cool off in the summer, as well as to celebrate community by gathering with friends and neighbors to enjoy the great outdoor recreation offerings at Noel Field, on the Fourth of July and throughout the season."

 

The splash park is the centerpiece of a Noel Field renovation that also includes new basketball courts, pickleball courts, and a new shade pavilion, among other amenities. It also complements the skate park that opened at the complex in 2017.

 

The renovations over the past three years were made possible through two state Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities grants totaling $800,000 and Community Develop Block Grant funding that has brought the total to date to around $1,454,000.‬

 

"This was an outstanding collaborative project. I'm so grateful to our state partners with the PARC program for supporting this vision and our efforts to make the Noel Field complex a recreation hub for all residents and visitors," said the mayor. "Locally, the team in the Office of Community Development did a terrific job working with the Berkshire Design Group and The Maxymillian Companies to manage and complete this project. Our public services team also did great work setting up and testing the system to ensure we're all ready to enjoy some summer fun at Noel Field."

 

The splash park will operate from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Labor Day, with fall hours to be announced.

 

As a reminder, smoking is prohibited on all city property and at all city-sponsored events.

 

Noel Field will also be site of the annual home game of the North Adams SteepleCats in the evening, followed by the Independence Day fireworks.