Polar Park Advances After Unanimous Approval

Scheduled to open for the PawSox 2021 season, Polar Park is on its way to becoming home to the Boston Red Sox AAA ballclub.

In a Worcester Planning Board meeting dedicated to reviewing plans for the Ballpark District, officials granted the approvals needed to keep the project moving forward. Working with an aggressive timeline, the team will be coordinating remaining approvals in phases, allowing construction of the stadium to begin while other aspects of the site design are finalized.

In preparation of last week’s public hearing, Bohler prepared five separate application packages to support the team’s phasing strategy. Each application represented a different aspect of the development: the ballpark, the left field building, a hotel, a parking structure and a mixed-use residential building.

As a brownfield redevelopment in the heart of Worcester, the project requires that Bohler and developer Madison Properties work closely with City officials, MA Department of Transportation, private utility companies, and a diverse team of design and construction professionals. Given the site’s history as an industrial facility, the team’s design incorporates careful handling of soils and demolition activities, as well as the relocation and upgrade of numerous utilities. Extensive earthwork is required to tackle the 35-foot grade change across the site, and several new streets will be created to accommodate the District while a few old ones will be abandoned.

Bohler’s landscape architecture team continues to develop streetscape design, enhancing public access and accommodations. Based on feedback from the community, bicycle storage and pedestrian circulation, as well as public plazas and rooftop terraces will be incorporated to create a fan-friendly environment.

Read more about this transformative project here.