City of Newton, MA
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Applications & Permits
2025 Picnic Reservations will be accepted starting Feb 1, 2025
Rented by the hour 10:00AM - One Hour Before Dusk
April - Weekends Only
May- August- 7 days/week
September-October - Weekends only thru10/12/25
• The picnic area is for Newton Residents and businesses only
• Call or email the office to see if the date, time and space is available
• If it is, we will pencil you in, once you are penciled in
• We will forward the picnic application
• You will complete and return the application with the payment
• Once processed we will send an email confirmation
• Bring the permit/email with you on the day of the picnic
• Staff will be on site
• Restrooms will be open
• Charcoal grills are available, you must bring your own charcoal
• Fields, courts, playground are available to the public and not included in this permit
Site 1 has seating for 100 people $60.00/hour
Site 2 has seating for 100 people $60.00/hour
Site 3 has seating for 50 people $50.00/hour
Site 4 has seating for 50 people $50.00/hour
Please call or email to check availability
617-796-1500
parks@newtonma.gov
Certain Department Buildings are available for rental when there are no regularly scheduled programs or events. The Recreation Manager in charge of the facility schedules each of the recreation building activities. Follow the instructions below to apply for a rental. To inquire about general information and current openings, you may also email the Recreation Manager at the facility.
Buildings available for public rental:
Pellegrini Fieldhouse
- Recreation Manager Stephanie Lapham Email
Albemarle Fieldhouse
- Recreation Manager Nancy Scammon Email
Lower Falls Community Center
- Recreation Manager Ricky Paglia Email
Newton Center Fieldhouse ("The Hut")
- Recreation Manager Ricky Paglia Email
Newton Centre -1294 Centre St
- Director Cultural Development. Paula Gannon Email
Emerson Community Center
- Recreation Manager Carol Stapleton Email
To Apply for a Rental:
- Click here for our online reservation system Select the facility and login or create an account. *Rentals will not be considered without an active account for the individual or business requesting reservation.
- Renters MUST have their own Liability Insurance and be able to name the "City of Newton" as additionally insured for their rental period.
- Current Rental Fees: $50.00/hour for gym space, $35.00/hour for meeting rooms
- Minimum 2 hour rental period
Step 1:
Create an account in our online registration system "MyRec"
Click here to create your account
All field permit holders must have an active account in this system before a permit is considered.
Individuals should fill out their household information, businesses or teams should fill out their organization's information.
Step 2:
Fill out the attached field permit application and read the rules & regulations
Click here to download the application
Bulk Permit Requests, please ALSO include this form.
Step 3:
Send your completed application to Aaron Friedman, Permits Manager at fieldpermits@newtonma.gov
Field permit business will be done via email
Questions?
If you have questions or need assistance, you may contact or visit the Parks & Recreation office at 617-796-1500 during our office hours Monday thru Friday 8:30am-5:00pm.
Field Permit Sessions
The Parks and Recreation Department offers fields for general athletic sport use, weather conditions permitting, first come first served, based upon the Tier System noted on the application.
Field Permits are divided into three sessions:
Session One: April 1 through Father’s Day
Session Two: Monday after Father's Day through August 19
Session Three: First weekend in September thru November 15
Permitted Use of Fields and Facilities:
- The use of Public Facilities for private gain is PROHIBITED without a permit.The use of Public Facilities which results in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit to an individual, organization, corporation, or other entity shall require a permit. Public Facilities include fields, tennis courts, outdoor basketball courts, track, playgrounds, and all other park and recreation space.
- Organized or regular use of Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture Public Facilities by groups and or individuals shall require a permit.
- Permits can be obtained by emailing a request to fieldpermits@newtonma.gov.
- All Permit applicants must carry a general liability insurance policy (combined single limit of 1,000,000.00) which includes the City of Newton as an Additional Insured. Applicants must submit a Certificate of Insurance evidencing such a policy, which Certificate must name the City of Newton as an Additional Insured and contain the Additional Insured General Liability Insurance Endorsement Form Number.
Our application has moved to a New Online Portal.
- You will be required to create an account. The instructions are on the portal webpage.
- Once the account is created, you click on to the "storefront"- Locate the Parks, Recreation & Culture section - Select the Outdoor Special Event Application button to begin the process
Outdoor Special Event Application
Contact: osepadmin@newtonma.gov
The City of Newton (the “City”), through authority granted to its Parks, Recreation & Culture Department (“PRC”) hereby adopts the following policy concerning the use of the City’s playing fields and related recreation facilities. This policy is meant to provide guidance to Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture Facilities users; however, all decisions regarding the use of newton facilities shall be subject to the discretion of the PRC.
The use of Public Facilities for private gain is PROHIBITED. The City of Newton’s Parks, Recreation & Culture Department requires a permit for the use of public facilities which results in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit to an individual, organization, corporation, or other entity. Facilities include fields, tennis courts, outdoor basketball courts, track, playgrounds, and all other park and recreation space.
Organized or regular use of Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture Facilities by groups and or individuals shall require a permit. To obtain a permit to teach a private or semi-private lesson:
1. Click here to create an online account on our registration system, "MyRec" All permit holders must create an account before submitting a permit request.
2. Once you are logged into your MyRec account, Click here for a list of facilities available to reserve and click the days and time(s) you wish.
3. A Parks Department staff member will approve requests in the order in which they are received. Please apply for a permit in advance. The Department hours are Monday thru Friday 8:30am-5:00pm.
Guidelines:
1. Fees: $25.00 per hour, per court
2. Instructors are responsible for completing a CORI/SORI check on any employee
3. Instructors MUST be able to provide the City with a Certificate of Liability Insurance naming the City of Newton as an additional insured party for (Limits of $1,000,000.00 general liability) The insurance agency SHALL state that the certificate holder (City of Newton, 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton MA 02459) is listed as an additional insured.
4. The instructor must carry with them a physical copy of their court reservation for the duration of the lesson. M.G.L. c. 45, Sec. 24, provides that a person who “violates any rule or regulation…shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars…” This would be $200 per offense.
The City of Newton provides designated locations and times to operate a drone on public grounds.
Old Cold Spring Park (softball field)
Upper Falls (Braceland) Park
Forte Park (10am-3pm)
Newton Highlands Park (10am-3pm)
To apply for a free permit click here
Use of a pilotless aircraft or drones for commercial purposes must be declared in your application and may require additional permits.
It is the drone operator’s responsibility to comply with all FAA regulations
Rental of War Memorial Auditorium
Newton's War Memorial Auditorium was dedicated and opened to the public in 1932. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places February 16, 1990 and continues to be a vibrant multi-use facility providing space for a diverse list of activities. The space can accommodate up to 350 people for a variety of meetings and celebrations. The high ceilings and tall columns lining the room make a striking visual for any event or performance. It is currently used for city meetings, training sessions, theater shows, recitals, rehearsals, private and public celebrations and ceremonies.
Email culture@newtonma.gov to inquire about availability.
Program and class proposal applications are available for instructors that are interested in running a program with Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture.
Scholarships are available for some of our Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture programs.
In order to be eligible for a scholarship you must be a Newton Resident, registered for one of our programs and your income must fall within the low to moderate income guidelines set by the CDBG. Scholarships awarded through Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture can only be applied to Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture programs.
Please understand that some of our programs may not offer scholarships or may limit the amount that an individual/family can receive.
Program Scholarship Application Form
If you are interested in a scholarship for summer camp, please fill out the summer camp scholarship application form. We receive grant money for our summer camp scholarships and are able to award higher scholarship amounts for summer camp.