Mayor Kicks Off Revitalization of Dias Field
Reimagined Park Will Have City’s First Regulation-Size Soccer Field
NEW BEDFORD – Mayor Jon Mitchell was joined by Ward 3 City Councillor Shawn Oliver, City Director of Parks, Recreation & Beaches Mary Rapoza and other officials Monday morning to break ground on the revitalization of Dias Field.
The reimagined park will be home to the City’s first regulation-size soccer field and New Bedford’s first mini-pitch, making state-of-the-art soccer facilities available to players of all abilities in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood.
The fields will be accompanied by bleachers and other amenities to provide a first-class atmosphere for competition of all levels.
Soccer has long been a popular sport in New Bedford, from its deep Portuguese roots to the many long-established youth and adult leagues throughout the City. When the City held its first public meeting on the Dias Field project in 2022, representatives of various soccer leagues expressed desire for a full-size field to allow New Bedford to host tournaments and travel teams.
“For generations, Dias Field was bustling with activity, and we want to make that happen again,” Mayor Mitchell said. “This project will ensure that Dias Field will be woven into the City’s rich soccer tradition.”
“We are so pleased to start construction at Dias Field on what will be the first full-size public soccer field in New Bedford,” Rapoza said. “The new soccer field will be part of a first-rate complex that will become a destination for teams, leagues and tournaments across the region.”
The mini-pitch will be a first for the City. Resembling a hockey rink in shape without ice, it will have goals built-in to the ends of the pitch for an easy-to-play experience. The fast-paced version of soccer is easily accessible for all skill levels and is growing in popularity throughout the country.
Dias Field was previously the home of the Greater New Bedford Youth Baseball League and was named in honor of former league president Joseph Dias, Sr. in 1972. One of three youth baseball leagues in New Bedford, the GNBYBL ceased operations in 2019. Two of the four current diamonds will remain for use as softball and youth baseball fields, while the other two will be reconfigured into the soccer complex. Currently, there are four baseball fields across the City that are not permitted by leagues or teams, so the City will be able to handle demand for access to diamonds following the Dias Field conversion.
The park will also have a circular walking path around it, more than 30 new trees planted, and a picnic area. The project was financed with $1.3 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, while the mini pitch was funded with grants from the National Recreation and Park Association and Musco Sports Lighting.
The revitalization of Dias Field is the latest in a long line of improvements to parks and athletic facilities under the Mitchell Administration. Ashley Park, Brooklawn Park, and Hazelwood Park have undergone recent renovation projects while athletic fields at New Bedford High School, Keith Middle School and Camara Field on Orchard Street have also seen significant upgrades.
Renovations are expected to be complete in the summer of 2025. Tim Gerrish of Gardner and Gerrish Landscape Architects designed the new Dias Field, and construction is being done by Dandel Construction Inc.