The East River Neighborhood Association (ERNA) met with interim Parks Director Cathy Baker-Eclipse recently to discuss the ongoing issues of noise, rowdiness and public drinking going on at Ross Field.

For those unaware, during the summer season a group picks up a permit to run a softball league. Residents have been complaining that the games are more like large parties, and besides the quality-of-life issues like driveways being blocked and noise during the games, the party often continues into the night and creates potential public safety issues.

The ERNA has been bringing this up during its meetings, notably with the Boston Police Department District E-18 officers who come each month to relate the crime statistics in the neighborhood, but progress has been slow. For previous coverage of this issue, go to https://tinyurl.com/mwp8ffdp

Baker-Eclipse said each permit has stipulations that state the Parks Department can revoke any license if such city laws and rules are not followed.

But were not very good at enforcing that, she said. And so one of the things I want to try to do better in 2026 is to enforce some of those rules, including having conversations with the permit holders before we issue permits, making sure they clearly understand that if they do not follow the rules, if there is violence, noise or people lingering after hours, their permits will be taken away.

Baker-Eclipse said she saw Ross Fields issues first hand. I was there a few evenings over the summer when there were people there too long. There was a police officer there and while I dont think they were doing a good job of actively encouraging people to leave, they were monitoring it and trying to passively encourage them to leave by having their presence there, she said. So thats one of the things I want to do better this coming summer, and hopefully now that the season is over there is not as much noise and disruption to the neighborhood.

Residents said patrons of the games have repeatedly abused the neighborhood, blocking driveways, driving erratically, drinking in public and causing noise for seven months and nothing was done.

This isnt the only park weve had issues at, but I think this is the only park where we had police presence. I think there is an effort by the police to have a presence there and discourage extremely bad behavior, Baker-Eclipse responded.

One resident said she had a person trespassing on her property, among other violations. I had to literally accost someone because they were in my yard urinating, she said. Im hoping that they are not allowed to come back because they cause such a disruption to the neighborhood. Unable to sleep or park on your own property, you know blocking people, ambulances couldnt get down the roads and so Im really hoping that you dont grant those people back into the park because of the issues they created in this neighborhood.

ERNA Chair Barbara Hamilton asked Baker-Eclipse how past bad behavior is handled when applicants go through the permitting process, and also pointed out that there is a parking lot always locked up during the evening.

The parking lot is challenging because its situated at the end of a dead-end street and does not have through traffic, Baker-Eclipse said, which makes it difficult to sweep and see if a tow truck should be called. The way we have dealt with it is to close the lot but that pushes the cars into the neighborhood We dont have enough people in the Parks Department to go out at 11 p.m. when the lights go out and sweep everybody out and then lock the gate and then open it again. The solution weve come up with, unfortunately, is to just close the lot.

Regarding permitting, she pointed out that the permit-holder may not be the problem. It could be the opposing team or the fans coming to the games.

Which is unfortunate, because the permit-holder is responsible for all the people who come out to their event, she said, adding the permit-holder is responsible for enforcing the rules. That can get a little complicated when its unclear whether its a family reunion, or maybe a baseball game On a busy day it can be difficult.

Residents said the permit-holders do not appear to enforce any of the rules.

Baker-Eclipse said she is also thinking about only providing 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. permits, so evening games and parties are not allowed.

Residents said they called the police and filed multiple 311 reports, many about public drinking in the park. Baker-Eclipse said that is enforceable by the police, but ERNA members said the police have told them multiple times that public drinking is a 311 report. Baker-Eclipse said the Parks Department does not have the staff to enforce public drinking laws at its parks.

I think thats the police, she said. And if there are cars parked in the street or blocking driveways then that is a police issue. We dont have jurisdiction in the right-of-way.

Baker-Eclipse said there are improvements coming to the park during this spring construction season. She said in addition to upkeep, maintenance and improvements to the basketball and tennis courts, the street hockey area is going to be converted into a new bike town.

That is going to be converted to a bike town which is a partnership with the Office of Early Childhood that helps encourages children to learn to bike, she said. The la paint on the surface is laid out like a town; there are stoplights, roads, trees painted on the ground; it allows children to get comfortable with all the road signs and have a safe place to learn to bike and get familiar with the iconography they would see when they do venture into the neighborhoods.

She said the improvements, including the bike park, should be ready by summer 2026. She added they are also looking at lighting and landscaping for future renovations.