Boston’s newest playground along the Charles River has received the blessing of Gronk tears.
Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski – affectionately known for his goofy, joyful personality – broke down in tears when officially opening “Gronk Playground” at the Esplanade on Tuesday, a feat more than five years in the making.
“I’ve never cried after a championship win, but I am crying after that,” Gronkowski said after being introduced by Susan Hurley, the president of CharityTeams, whom he partnered with to make his dream a reality.
Gronkowski arrived at the playground’s ribbon-cutting ceremony in grand fashion, piloting a duck boat with his dog “Ralphie” on his lap.
The fully ADA-accessible park is designed for children of all ages and abilities, featuring a “Gronk-spiked” football slide, mini duck boats, scaled-down replicas of the Boston Marathon route and Zakim Bridge, a life-size Gronk figure for high-fives and inspirational quotes from fellow city athletes.
Gronkowski donated $1.8 million for the project through his Gronk Nation Youth Foundation, a nonprofit organization he founded while with the Patriots, focusing on keeping kids healthy and active.
Perhaps the greatest tight end in NFL history, Gronkowski reflected on the “long, hard process” for the playground to come to be, which he said was “well worth it.”
The idea for the playground, Gronkowski said, sparked after he played his final game with the Patriots, defeating the Rams in Super Bowl LIII in February 2019, and initially retired.
Gronkowski started to break down as he spoke about giving back to Boston, “for all of the love and support that the city and New England fans have shown me throughout my career.”
He specifically recounted how he’d overlook the spot where the playground stands today while he received treatment for his multiple injuries, between 2013 and 2018, at the nearby Mass General Ellison building.
“‘Man, that’d be such a cool spot to turn into an awesome, awesome playground for the kids,’” Gronkowski recounted thinking to himself. “I kept that in the back of my mind.”
“And immediately, boom,” he added. “We are finally opening it.”
The playground is situated along the Charlesbank riverfront, close to the Museum of Science, North Station, Mass General, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, and adjacent to the Alfond Spray Deck.
Hurley, of CharityTeams, called the opening of Gronk Playground a “historic moment,” continuing the legacy of the “iconic” Esplanade. She recounted how she received a text message from Gronkowski at about 9 p.m. on a “random Sunday” in 2019 that he had an idea.
“Knowing Rob, this could have went in a multitude of directions,” Hurley said, “but my heart filled when this big kid, born near Buffalo – but let’s face it, he’s made in New England – replied that he wanted to build a playground for the children of this incredible region.”
Hurley said she immediately got in contact with the Esplanade Association, exploring what properties would be feasible in supporting Gronk’s playground. The spot it stands immediately topped the list.
The philanthropist and Gronkowski share a special bond. Hurley has been to MGH’s Ellison building seven times since May as she’s battling Stage 4 cancer, looking down at the playground.
She wondered if she’d make it to see the park officially open.
“And here I am,” Hurley said. “When you think about … how life comes full circle, for me to be on the same floor as Rob when he was up there, there has never been a challenge that we haven’t met.”
Gronkowski won four Super Bowls with Tom Brady, three in New England and one in Tampa Bay, where he played for two seasons before retiring for good.
The Patriots unveiled a statue outside of Gillette Stadium in Brady’s honor earlier this month.
“Rob Gronkowski is a legend,” Gov. Maura Healey said during Tuesday’s celebration. “We adore him for so many reasons, all of his exploits on the field, and, certainly, all of his contributions off the field.”
“Another guy, a couple of weeks ago, got a statue,” she added. “I think it’s pretty cool that Gronk’s got a playground. That sounds right.”
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