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Parking “blitz” coming to Ross Field

School bus cameras hearing coming

By Jeff Sullivan · July 30, 2026
Parking “blitz” coming to Ross Field
The signs are pointing to good news for the East River Neighborhood Association's relationship with the nearby softball league. · Courtesy Photo
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Residents at the most recent East River Neighborhood Association (ERNA) said while issues are not completely resolved at Hyde Park’s Ross Field, they’re on track to be.

The ERNA has been dealing with ancillary problems around a softball league that uses Ross Field in the summer months. The problems have been going on for years now, and include blocked driveways, noise complaints well into the night, partying, public urination and other quality of life issues.

The ERNA has been petitioning the city to do something about it for years, and after a meeting between residents, ERNA members and league representatives, progress appears to have been made.

“On a positive note, those baseball (sic) clean that field like no one’s ever been there,” said one resident. “I can’t believe how clean they leave it, but then a whole bunch stay and party on the sidewalk until midnight.”

Residents also complained that handicapped ramps on curb cuts are being blocked as well, but did say that the Boston Police Department (BPD) did get on the megaphone at 6 p.m. to clear players out of the neighborhood. Police representatives said they had to only request that players leave, as the park is technically open until dusk.

Residents asked if they should call police for the sidewalk parties, which go on until after dusk, and BPD representatives said they should definitely call if that happens again.

Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) Hyde Park Liaison Zoë Petty sent a followup email after the meeting detailing increased police presence to cut down on illegal parking and other problems. She said the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) will be stepping up parking enforcement “blitzes” in the area, as well as showing up after games to help disperse crowds. Petty also said the city Parks Department will be placing more trash cans in the park to help reduce the incentive to litter around the neighborhood. Lastly, Petty said the league has agreed to have dedicated staff for crowd management and to have announcers read out the rules, procedures and end times at the start of games.

“Additionally, as discussed in last night's meeting, BPD will patrol after the games but if people return once they leave residents can call 911,” she wrote. “However, the park does close at dusk, which is around 9 p.m. currently. If residents see any concerning activity such as the grilling or public urination as mentioned please call 911. Let me know if you have any other questions.”

Resident Mark Oliver was not optimistic during the meeting. He asked about having the league pay for a police detail each game. Petty said it’s up to the city as to whether to require that, as it would require more staffing and, likely, more overtime.

“That’s interesting, because when I went to a concert last year in Dorchester, there was a lieutenant and four police officers,” he said. “I spoke to the guy who did the concert last week, and he said the Parks Department made them get a detail… If someone wants to work the detail, they’ll find a way to do that.”

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Jordan Frias represented District 5 Councilor Enrique Pepén during the meeting and said the councilor has sent warnings to the league about parking.

“I guess it’s a last warning, where we say, ‘Park correctly or get a ticket,’” he said.

In other news, Frias said the councilor is working to bring a hearing to the city council on putting cameras on school buses and fining drivers who run the buses’ stop sign when they are picking up or dropping off students.

“We did file an ordinance for school stop arm cameras; as you may or may not know, thousands of school bus stop signs are violated every day and children, adults and drivers are killed by people who ignore those stop signs,” he said. “So following the lead of schools across the country, we are trying to get those cameras on BPS school buses to make the process of picking up and dropping off students safer.”

Frias said the hearing should be coming soon and they had a meeting last week with the BPS legal team about how that could work.

Frias added that the council adopted a non-binding resolution to urge the Boston Public Schools (BPS) district to adopt the federal Safe Routes to School Program. The program gives out funds to partnered school districts to help make the areas around schools safer and promote walking to school.

The ERNA is set to meet on Monday, August 10th.

About the author

Jeff Sullivan Covers local news and community stories.

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