New Bedford set to get its first regulation-size soccer field by summer of 2025

NEW BEDFORD — Groundbreaking on the revitalization of Dias Field took place on Monday with Mayor Jon Mitchell, Ward 3 City Councilor Shawn Oliver, Director of Parks, Recreation and Beaches Mary Rapoza, and other officials in attendance.

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.

The reimagined park will be home to New Bedford's first regulation-size soccer field and mini-pitch, making state-of-the-art soccer facilities available to players of all abilities in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

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The mini-pitch will resemble a hockey rink in shape without ice, it will have goals built into 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.

“For generations, Dias Field was bustling with activity, and we want to make that happen again,” Mitchell said in a press release. “This project will ensure that Dias Field will be woven into the City’s rich soccer tradition.”

The fields will be accompanied by bleachers and other amenities to provide a first-class atmosphere for competition of all levels.

“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 in the release. “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.”

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.

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.

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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.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford set to get its first regulation-size soccer field by summer of 2025