Roberto Clemente Park

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Roberto Clemente Park also known to locals as "Pailin Park" is a centerpiece to Lowell, Massachusetts’ Little Cambodia. Found in the Highlands, Roberto Clemente Park, is on Middlesex Street. The park is enjoyed by many on a daily basis due to its extensive amounts of activities. The area has an abundant Cambodian population and it is reflected through the location and architecture that can be seen around. Although dominated by the Cambodians, the park is open for all to enjoy. ^[1]

History[edit]

Before it had its Cambodian makeover, the park was the site of one of the most captivating Baseball field and stadiums in the United States. Established in 1906, the park was originally named, “Washington Park” and served as the historic home of the Lowell Tigers from 1907 to 1909. This early edition of the park was short-lived due to management issues which led to the team fading out from Lowell’s mainstream.^[2]

In 1921 the city of Lowell's Board of Park Commissioners took the 120,000 square foot field and turned it into a Playground. The park was successful and the city council under Phil Shea’s notion, decided to terminate the use of the name, “Washington Park” and replaced it with what we know today as, “Roberto Clemente Park”^[3] on July 10th 1973. Roberto Clemente was a great baseball player who became the first Latin man to be selected to join the baseball Hall Of Fame. In this time, baseball returned to Lowell and the park was used for recreational baseball games and practice. ^[4] In the 1980s, The Cambodian Diaspora caused a great upsurge of Cambodian people in America. Thousands of them decided to make Lowell, Massachusetts their permanent home.^[5] This led to the creation of Little Cambodia (also called Little Cambodia) in the lower highlands neighborhood. The centerpiece of this area is Roberto Clemente Park. The park gave the locals a place to gather for important meetings as well as to relax and participate in recreational activities. Cambodian people enjoyed playing volleyball and boules, since this was the case, the park used up the space to create volleyball nets on gravel courts, there are a total of 6 courts to choose from and anyone can get involved at any time.

The members of the Khmer language have unofficially begun calling the park, “Pailin province” as a nod to a city in Cambodia that was known for its luxuries and riches. This caused debates on whether or not to officially change the name to Pailin Park^[6] and the City Council spoke on the matter on March 19, 2019. The decision on the name is still to be determined.^{[7] [8]}

Roberto Clemente park is now an established park of The Cambodian American community in Lowell Massachusetts.

Activities[edit]

Roberto Clemente Park is located in the heart of Cambodia Town in the Highlands. The park offers visitors a good slice into Cambodian culture and traditions.^[9] Red Rose Restaurant is a spot that many locals go to for a bite of authentic Cambodian cuisine and Bayon Market is an Asian market selling Southeast Asian ingredients. There are a variety of Cambodian owned businesses in this area to visit.

With the Influx of Cambodian Americans, the park transitioned into a place dominated by the sport of volleyball. At Roberto Clemente Park, locals can be observed playing pick up volleyball everyday (besides Winter and late Fall because the nets are taken down), usually in a four-on-four setting. The park also provides two full court sized section for basketball behind the playground in a caged in area.

Boules is a favorite amongst the older locals. This is a game similar to bowls and bocce where the objective of the game is to roll heavy balls as close as possible to a tiny ball (called the jack) without moving said tiny ball. The arena for this activity can be found in the back of the park under a long canopy.^[10]

Cultural Architecture[edit]

Roberto Clemente Park has various features that showcases its Cambodian influence and history:

• Buddhist Shrine
• Sculpture of Bayon
• Flag of Cambodia
• Naga staues
• Buddhist Lion Sculptures
• Healing Garden and Stupa^[11]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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