A reader wrote to us recently asking about what’s up with Ollie Turner Park, which has recently become an increasingly busy field in this reader’s neighborhood of the “Standish Estates” alongside Longfellow Pond in Wellesley.
According to the reader: “Over the past two weeks, garbage cans, ‘pick up after your dog signs’ (yeah!) and 2 very wobbly and flimsy goal posts have been added. Oh, and they marked the grass with paint to designate a playing field….So far the reaction [in the neighborhood] has been universally negative. Where’s the untarnished open space? Did we really need another playing field?”
We checked first with the Wellesley Recreation Department, which said it hasn’t issued any formal permits for the field.
We also checked with the Department of Public Works, and the DPW’s Mike Quinn (assistant superintendent/deputy tree warden) says: “Ollie Turner Park has always been Parkland and the field has always been used as an informal play area, by the neighborhood. It appears some younger families have moved into the neighborhood and are using the field more. We also recently received a complaint about dog owners not cleaning up after their dogs. We responded to that complaint by posting a couple of small signs asking dogs owners to clean up after their dogs. We also placed an additional small sign identifying the park play area near the Longfellow pond path. There always has been a sign at the Carver Rd entrance but it was faded and replaced by a new sign recently. We have also added a trash barrel to help encourage dog owners to pick up. It is located near the picnic table that has always been at this site too.”
(We’d sort of forgotten about this field. Does anyone know who Ollie Turner is?)
Maybe people should find things to do with their time and lives besides complaining about things that don’t effect them. I’ve been a nanny in this town for 3 years. I use that field almost every day with kids whom all live in that neighborhood and deserve full use of a beautiful space to play in. The goalposts are just for fun and can be removed with one pull if necessary. Although I can’t imagine it would be necessary seeing whereas I’ve seen no one using that field in the 3 years thay I’ve been here. I’ve also seen no one caring for it other rhan us. We pick up trash and other peoples dog feces daily. We are also the people who requested that the town put up signs and a barrel because the kids who play there actually CARE about the land and aren’t just issuing empty complaints. For once, there’s a great group of kids, led by a responsible adult, having good old fashioned fun. … the way kids are supposed to. No strict time slots, no video games, no kid left out…. and yet people try and find a way to ruin a beautiful thing. Shame on them. And to set the record straight. .. I have asked the town multiple times if I need a permit to play there with the kids (who’s parents pay the town taxes!) and the town has assured me repeatedly that I do not need a permit because no one else uses that field! So complainers, maybe its time to take your dog walking on a new route. We are tired of picking up your dog’s feces anyhow.
I live in the neighborhood and feel that a group of supervised children using Ollie Turner Field is a great use for the space. The addition of new signage and a trash barrel is appreciated – thank you Wellesley DPW! I walk my dog past the field almost every morning and with few exceptions, have never seen anyone in Ollie Turner Field. According to the Town of Wellesley, “Ollie Turner Field is a recreational sports field” and even though the field is now being used, it remains open and untarnished.
Park & Highway operates and maintains active play areas, school grounds and recreation facilities throughout the Town. There are 255 acres of active recreation areas included in the following sites:
• 9 schools (Bates, Fiske, Hardy, Hunnewell, Schofield, Sprague, Upham, Middle and High School)
• 9 fields (Hunnewell, Kelly, MacKinnon, Ouellet, Brown, Perrin, Phillips, Warren, and Ollie Turner)
• Morse’s Pond and beach facilities
• Tennis courts (Hunnewell Field, Kelly Field, Schofield School and Sprague Field)
According to the Town of Wellesley, Ollie Turner Field is designated as:
Ollie Turner Field is a recreational sports field.
Park & Highway operates and maintains active play areas, school grounds and recreation facilities throughout the Town. There are 255 acres of active recreation areas included in the following sites:
• 9 schools (Bates, Fiske, Hardy, Hunnewell, Schofield, Sprague, Upham, Middle and High School)
• 9 fields (Hunnewell, Kelly, MacKinnon, Ouellet, Brown, Perrin, Phillips, Warren, and Ollie Turner)
• Morse’s Pond and beach facilities
• Tennis courts (Hunnewell Field, Kelly Field, Schofield School and Sprague Field)
I live in the neighborhood and feel the increased play activity in “Ollie Turner” field is a positive thing. The new signage and the trash barrel are a welcome addition – thank you Wellesley DPW!
It is wonderful to see a group of children, under close supervision, being inclusive and playing together. I walk my dog past the field almost every morning and with few exceptions, have never seen anyone use the field. As far as I can see, even with neighborhood children playing in the Longfellow Pond/Ollie Turner Park area, the space remains open and untarnished.
Really!? Neighbors complaining about kids playing in the park? Hope when their kids or grandkids are around they come down and join us. They’ll come home dirty, hungry and smiling! Carry on boys and girls!! (also, thank you to the DPW for putting in the trash cans and signs – you guys are awesome!)
Hats off to the town for being so responsive in getting signs and trash barrels to help keep the field clean and utilized. Nothing better than children using a park to play at…as oppose to just look at!
(and the playing is how it should be as well… a bunch of kids getting together to play capture the flag, wiffle ball or flag football in a come one, come all manner…which is how it should be as well!)
I have lived near this field for over 25 years and my relatives for 15 years before me. When this area became officially designated as conservation space (6-9 years ago?). Someone, unbeknownst to anyone in the neighborhood, placed the “Ollie Turner” name on the field. I have never met anyone in the neighborhood who knows who Ollie Turner is. The neighborhood has always referred to the area as “The Field”.
It has been considered for use as a practice field in the past but was rejected because the size was too small and the rampant poison ivy which I and my children can attest to 🙁