Cristoforo Colombo Park, also known as East Park, is an important neighborhood and city-wide park located within the busy and vibrant Shrewsbury Street commercial district. East Park is easily recognizable because of the two stone griffins (lions with wings) flanking the park entrance.
The park contains lighted fields for football, as well as a tennis court and two basketball courts. The park also includes a splash pad in the warm weather months, a state-of-the-art children’s playground, amphitheater and many acres of undeveloped hillsides with trail connections to Bell Pond Park and Green Hill Park leading all the way to Lake Quinsigamond.
Cool off on a hot summer day at the Cristoforo Colombo Spray Park! Bring your kids down to splash around and get sprayed by spouts of water! It'll be a blast!
Cristoforo Colombo Park not only has a state-of-the-art children’s playground, but it also has a smaller play structure in the park, basketball courts and a baseball diamond where you can catch an exciting ball game or snag some fly balls of your own.
The Worcester Parks Summer Fitness Series is a 12-week program presented by the City of Worcester Department of Health & Human Services and Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA in partnership with the YWCA Central Massachusetts and YMCA of Central Massachusetts. The program runs from June 5 through August 27, Mondays through Saturdays at 8 city parks. Classes range from Zumba to sports skills training to HIIT and Yoga, all family-friendly.
The amphitheater in the middle of the park is a unique structure that is host to many events throughout the warmer months. Most notably, during the City's annual Independence Day Celebration, the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra wows a large crowd before the fireworks light up the sky.
In 1916, an ornamental gateway was installed making use of the two stone griffins (lions with wings) that formerly supported the arch of the train shed of the old Union Railroad Station. Next time you're at the park, look at the griffins and you will see that they are not a matching pair. One griffin's tail is facing Shrewsbury St and the other griffin's tail is unseen facing the park. It is believed that the griffins were transported by horse and sled.
View some of the other parks in this district. Get out and explore!
Worcester’s largest and most diverse park includes a golf course and many sports fields, some lighted. There is a petting zoo, arboretum, ponds and playgrounds. Green Hill Pond, a 30-acre “great pond” is at the center. Multiple gazebos and picnic areas provide areas to relax and take in the view.
Fairmont Park is located atop Poet Laureate Hill off of Grove Street. It has a playground, half basketball court and a picnic area. This park also features amazing views of downtown Worcester. In addition, Fairmont Park has an amphitheater and occasionally hosts events.
Holmes Field is an 8-acre park located on Plantation Street, named after Pehr G. Holmes. It features a ball field, playground, hockey court and picnic area. It is home of the Nick Manzello Baseball Diamond. Part of Holmes Field is under construction, but soon there will be new amenities!
Location: 180 Shrewsbury Street - Map
District: 2
Size: 23.0 acres
Parking Lot(s): Yes
Features:
