At UMass Boston, the Clark Athletic Center has served as the home of the Beacons for over three decades. The multi-purpose facility, which serves as the home for many men’s and women’s athletic teams, has undergone numerous upgrades and serves as the primary facility for the UMass Boston Athletics Department (1).
The Edward T. Barry Ice Rink, home of the UMass Boston men’s and women’s ice hockey teams, is deemed one of the most impressive rinks in the New England Hockey Conference, and is one of the two main facilities at Clark. The ice rink seats up to 1,000 spectators and houses the coaching staffs for both programs. The training room and weight room facilities are in the same building as the dressing rooms for each squad. Through the Beacons Broadcast Network, webcasts of every home game are accessible, giving supporters the chance to follow their Beacons even if they are unable to attend a game (2).
In the fall of 2016, the ice rink’s name was changed from the Beacons Ice Arena to the Edward T. Barry Ice Rink. Coach Barry was a mentor on and off the ice for Boston State College, and eventually UMass Boston once BSC was discontinued. The ice rink’s naming ceremony served as the formal beginning of a $5 million rehabilitation project, with hopes to transform it into the premier hockey venue in Division III college athletics (2).
A temporary multi-purpose surface, that was created by UMass Boston in the summer of 2012, allows a variety of sports, most notably basketball and volleyball, to be played in the ice rink after the men’s and women’s hockey seasons are over. The ice is reinstalled each August to make room for new sheets of ice created for the upcoming men’s and women’s hockey season (2). Not only that, but recreational skating is also provided throughout the school year for students. Last year saw the schedule run from 12–2 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, whereas this year has a more fluctuated schedule (3).
Not only are there improvements being made for Clark, but there are also improvements being made to parks that are home to spring sports, like baseball and softball, too. The UMass Boston softball field has received improvements over the last five years to make it one of the top parks in the league. Frankly, it may be one of the top softball complexes in the Little East Conference. The field has two roofed dugouts, two bullpens, a batting cage and a grassy spectator area for fans to watch games. The university constructed a brand-new irrigation system for the field, which will maintain its great condition year-round, even during the harsh New England winters (4).
On the flip side, Monan Park is the new home of UMass Boston baseball. The park, which replicates America’ most beloved ballpark, Fenway Park, has its own Green Monster, which is 27 feet tall and spans across all of left field. The Beacons are able to play in basically any type of weather thanks to the field turf used on the field. The pitcher’s mound is made of the same red clay Fenway Park uses, and is cared for by the staff at the stadium. The park itself holds up to 500 fans, and even has its own press box for games to be broadcasted and reported on (5).
UMass Boston is extremely fortunate to have these beautiful facilities built on their campus, let alone maintained by the wonderful staff that ensures these facilities are in top shape for the start of each team’s season. Not only that, but the idea of being able to utilize these facilities recreationally, as students attending UMass Boston, means the process for these hard workers to keep the facilities in top working order makes it all the more impressive.
UMass Boston students are grateful and appreciative for these workers dedicating their time to keeping these facilities clean. We thank them for their daily dedication toward keeping UMass Boston’s recreational facilities some of the best among other facilities within each team’s conference.