The Lawn on D at Ten Years

Notice The Lawn on D’s slogan as you enter from D Street – “10 Years and Still Swinging”. This saying accurately describes an extremely fast-paced decade for a facility that has quickly become another popular South Boston tradition. The Lawn on D, a three-acre, 100,000+ square foot grassy park next to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, has something for everyone. And 2023 is their Tenth Anniversary.

From May 1 through Tuesday, October 31, 2023, they are open seven days a week from 7 a.m. until late in the evening. There is no admission charge for visiting – The Lawn on D and its games are all free, blessedly free. And this year, The Lawn on D is still being “Powered” by Citizens Bank. We thank them.

Even though The Lawn on D is well known for unique features like their circular swings that glow during evening hours, they continue to innovate. We noticed a game that resembles a large pool table in the ground, which uses balls that can be sunk by kicking a white, soccer-sized cue ball into them. And something that’s new in 2023 is Pickleball. Two regulation Pickleball courts have been installed at the north end of the Lawn. Note that there are devices labeled “Away With Geese” implanted around The Lawn on D. Unfortunately, Canadian geese are strongly attracted to South Boston‘s open areas, both in the spring and in the fall. And of course, they leave their “visitors gifts” behind them. Just check out Moakley Park and you’ll see what we mean. There’s no question that “Away With Geese” is a welcome feature of The Lawn on D.

On clear days, The Lawn on D is brilliantly sunlit. Bring a blanket, or take a quiet, quarter-mile walk around it. The paved walkways make for pleasant footing. Go around four times and you’ve walked a full mile. The borders of The Lawn at D have been planted with many trees and shrubs that are now in full leaf, so you can easily find a shady spot to stop in for a while. Particularly striking are the 30 tall cedar trees along The Lawn on D’s border to the north. We have purposely written about The Lawn on D during its daytime hours. Yes, there are many afternoons and evenings of summer entertainment for all you grown-ups to enjoy in the tented pavilion at the Lawn’s southern end – check these out for yourselves at LawnOnD. com. But if you would like to treat your children to a really memorable South Boston day, consider taking them to the Children’s Museum at 308 Congress Street in the morning, and then spending the afternoon at The Lawn on D – including a burger-pizza lunch at The Lawn on D’s concession (Thursdays through Sundays). It will be a magical day for them; they’ll never forget it.

Beach Day

The first of two South Boston Neighborhood House Playdates at the Beach took place Monday at Carson Beach. The heat did not faze the kids as they played games, went swimming, listened to story time with the South Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library, ate hot dogs, enjoyed ice cream from the Boston Police Department truck, got their faces painted, and so much more! The next Playdate will be Tuesday, Aug. 8 from 5-7 p.m. at Carson Beach. For more information, email Meghan at msavicke@ sbnh.org or Idalia at igrant@sbnh.org.