The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has appointed Chris Sumner as the new executive director of Roxbury’s Melnea A. Cass Recreation Center, Roxbury Heritage State Park, and the Dillaway-Thomas House. According to Mass.gov, the DCR has outlined significant improvements to the Melnea A. Cass Recreation Center, focusing on enhancing the experience for families and kids. Sumner, known for his deep Roxbury roots, brings over three decades of experience in various leadership roles to the table.
Chris Sumner, who has been referred to as a "son of Roxbury," is set to lead the Center through a series of planned upgrades aimed at increasing the space’s utility and accessibility. Sumner’s previous roles span executive positions at non-profits and educational institutions focused predominantly on youth and family-oriented services. The Center, acting as a hub for local families, stayed open during the summer as committed by the Healey-Driscoll Administration and is now partially set to quickly reopen for permit holders, starting with the arena tomorrow.
The Melnea A. Cass Recreation Center, named after the esteemed civil rights activist, serves as a unique 2.5-acre facility within the DCR portfolio, housing a climate-controlled indoor arena and a seasonal outdoor pool with a spray deck. As reported by Mass.gov, Sumner expressed his vision of creating a "vibrant, welcoming space" that embodies the spirit of Roxbury, aiming to make the complex a centerpiece for community gathering and growth.
Some of the new features visitors can look forward to include a new athletic floor and equipment, an improved Wi-Fi network, and a refreshed entrance lobby. Upgrades are still to be completed—expected to feature a digital entrance sign, an enhanced sound system in the arena, and interpretive paneling that will narrate the history of the complex and its namesake. The final improvement phase will also include adding a new roof with solar panels and a new garage door for the arena. DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo praised Sumner's appointment, as per Mass.gov, confident in his abilities to further enrich the Center's offerings.
Senator Liz Miranda invited the community to explore the updated facilities and endorsed the improvements as a pathway to a "brighter future for the Second Suffolk district," as noted by Mass.gov. Representative Chynah Tyler echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining accessible community assets. The full reopening to the public will follow the soft launch with a grand event planned for later in the fall. In the meantime, signage around the recreation center will be posted to keep the public informed about the ongoing enhancements.
