The City of Holyoke Parks and Recreation Department develops and promotes a wide variety of recreation opportunities and encourages and inspires all Holyoke residents to come out and play in Holyoke.
With a wide variety of co-ed sport programs, special events, recreational leaders in the parks as well as pool activities, the Parks and Recreation Department has a program just for you.
Programs are offered in an atmosphere where there is top quality instruction, great facilities, and opportunities to improve skills and make life-long memories for athletes of all abilities. Week-long programs for basketball, crew (rowing), field hockey, kayak, tennis and volleyball are offered as well as a private soccer camp.
Through Recreational Leaders in the Parks program, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department offers certified leaders to help provide summer fun while playing cooperative games and making arts & crafts at several parks throughout the City.
There are several special events that take place in the City throughout the year, including Arbor Day Celebration, Middle School Track & Field Championships, Family Fish Day, Casey Kane Memorial Tennis Tournament, Massachusetts Cup Field Hockey Tournament, 3 on 3 outdoor Basketball Tournament, City of Holyoke Fireworks, Flashback music and car show concert and the annual Seniorfest picnic.
Contact the Holyoke Parks & Recreation Department at 413-322-5620 for more information or visit www.holyoke.org
In addition to the City’s recreational opportunities, youth programs by the Greater Holyoke Y, the Boys and Girls Club, and Girls, Inc. offer numerous and varied activities accessible to all in the community.
Holyoke is also the home of numerous recreation and sport facilities, which include the1,800 acre Mt. Tom Reservation, Fitzpatrick Skating Rink, and many city parks. In 2003, a state of the art sports complex was built adjacent to Holyoke High School. The Roberts Sports Complex, named after a former Holyoke Sports legend, Arthur H. Roberts, includes an Olympic size track, a field turf football field, as well as outdoor tennis, volleyball and basketball courts.
Roberts Sports Complex, home to the Purple Knights football, soccer, field hockey and track and field teams, is the site of both regional and state track and field meets, as well as post-season events in football, soccer and field hockey. Located next to Holyoke High School is Mackenzie Stadium, another sporting venue, which along with being the home field for the Purple Knights baseball and softball teams, also hosts youth baseball leagues, and collegiate baseball tournaments.
Baseball - Holyoke Blue Sox
Holyoke rolled out the red carpet and made Mackenzie Stadium the home the Holyoke Blue Sox’s in 2008. The Blue Sox have been a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL www.necbl.com) since 2008 and prior to becoming the Blue Sox were the Concord Quarry Dogs and a member since 1997. The NECBL is funded in part by Major League Baseball and is comprised of 12 teams throughout all 6 New England States who recruit the elite athletes and premier pro-prospects from around the world.
The Holyoke Blue Sox athletes come from the top college programs in the country, many drafted into Major League Baseball. These teams include the Red Sox, White Sox, Brewers, Nationals, Braves, Blue Jays, Tigers, Angels and Mariners. If you want to bond, see positive work habits, and gain insight into how to balance baseball with academics with tomorrow’s stars, this is the place!
Last season, 140 players were drafted out of the league, (NECBL), to Major League Baseball. The Blue Sox play 23 home games from June through the end of July, with August reserved for the Playoff Series.
To learn more about the Holyoke Blue Sox’ schedule and events please visit www.holyokesox.com
Holyoke Community College
The long and rich tradition of athletics at Holyoke Community College dates back to the 1940's. Today, HCC’s athletics program provides students with an opportunity to enrich their college experience through intercollegiate sports. The College is a member of the National Jr. College Athletic Association NJCAA in Region 21 and the Massachusetts Community College Athletic Conference MCCAC. HCC’s teams compete at both the state and regional (Northeast) levels. Athletics and Recreation includes
varsity sports, fitness and wellness, and a wide variety of college and community programs.
To learn more about HCC’s athletics and recreational programs pleaser visit
hcc.edu/life/athletics.html
Childrens Museum at Holyoke
Come play with us!
Shop in our bodega, cook for our Do-Da Diner, blow an awesome bubble, make paper, drive the ambulance, create art, then crawl up the Curvy Climber for a bird’s eye view of our museum. There are over 30 hands-on exhibits that show how learning can be fun!
Dress up as a doctor or make music on the bongo drums. Try floating ducks down our watertable canal, curl up with a book, or see yourself on TV.
Who knew that you could do all of this in one place, right in Holyoke!
Come play with us, and see for yourself!
For more information visit the Children’s Museum website: www.childrensmuseumholyoke.org.
Holyoke Heritage State Park
Holyoke Heritage State Park is owned and operated by the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of State Parks and Recreation. The park Visitor's Center offers group tours and historical and environmental programming year-round and features exhibits about water power, paper manufacturing and Holyoke's industrial and social history.
If you would like to learn more about Holyoke Heritage State Park, please visit the website at: www.mass.gov.
Volleyball Hall of Fame
Volleyball is the second most played sport in the world today. The Volleyball Hall of Fame is located just a few blocks away from the site of the original YMCA where the game was invented by William G. Morgan in 1895. Sports enthusiasts and volleyball fans from around the globe and from every state in the union have come to the Hall to experience the excitement and history of the game.
Current exhibits include: an interactive video presentation, the model half court and life-sized player silhouettes, the large scale graphics, and the displays and memorials to the sport’s great men and women, teams and organizations. A merchandise area provides unique Hall of Fame gifts, souvenirs, and activewear. The Hall of Fame also maintains a schedule of exciting events. Foremost is the Induction Celebration held every year in mid-October.
For more information please visit the Volleyball Hall of Fame website at: www.volleyhall.org