Serving as Westfield’s primary recreational park for over fifty years, Welch Field is one of the community’s most valuable assets. Over 1,000 residents from Westfield and surrounding communities utilize the park and participate in Welch Field programs. The number of participants alone demonstrates the importance of Welch Field for those that live, work and recreate in Westfield. For many, Welch Field and the programming it facilitates is a primary reason for living in Westfield. As such it will continue to retain residents as well as attract new residents given its impact on quality of life.
Existing Welch Field facilities include an outdoor pool, pool house, skate park, playground, two basketball courts, two baseball fields, a volleyball court and a non-motorized multi-use path for walking, jogging, cross country skiing and cycling and a field house for indoor recreation such as ping pong, pool and arts & crafts.
A number of Welch Field facilities are in need of replacement, upgrade or reconfiguration due to age, functionality and safety concerns. One of the most pressing issues is the 50-year-old pool house that is experiencing structural deterioration, lacks modern day functionality and housed mechanicals responsible for the operation of the outdoor pool have aged well beyond their useful life. Other issues include inadequate parking, unenclosed basketball courts next to a busy street and underutilized space.