DONT GO UNLESS YOU GO FOR EXTERIORS. ITS A BUSY SPOT AS WALKERS TOUR AROUND AND GAWK AT THE FENCED IN STRUCTURE AND ACCESSING THE INTERIOR AS I DID, WAS NOT EASY OR PARTICULARLY REWARDING OTHER THAN SEEING HISTORY FIRSTHAND

In the summer, being on a pedal bike, I tend to get further from the city interiors. And do an awful lot of aimless wandering. In some of that wandeing I recall pointing at this grandstand this summer 2020 past and stating how it was looking pretty rough. Ive never seen it used for real, and someone I know said they hadnt seen the concession stand open in a decade.

Here we are and COVID is running rampant and what I do looks more transparent than the actions of the City Of Cambridge (oh here we go again.....). The Preston Springs Hotel just a stones throw away is taken out over a holiday in RECORD time and then the Grandstand gets fenced off. Words like ''Danger'' and ''Unstable'' and I dont usually agree with these signs but yeah, the thing is a danger to some select groups. The wood is rotted in some spots and quite soft and the thaw and freeze action wont make it better. The beams are heavily rusted. The wood roof is heavily rotted. The water has gotten to at least parts of the interior. Frozen water on the one beam on one side and small puddles in the other. And now the City "does not know where money is coming from to fix this".

But the structure is 99-100 years old and not maintained anywhere near as well as the City seems to conveniently claim for just about all they own. Built 1922-23. It may not have a designation but it has been around since the time of that park and gates just about. Id say its a fixture. I fear with the lack of use and the cost to fix it, it will be demolished. Ive said it once, and I may not have too many chances to say it again (but I have been wrong too LOL)..... Its surrounded by demolition fencing. ==Prove me wrong.==

MAR 2ND 2021- City Council, in a SECOND SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING has decided to fund and pay for and come up with the money for the Grandstand. I was kinda concerned as being from Cambridge, all ive done is watch the City destroy its own roots this year. So like most things, only time will tell if it really happens. Im hopeful. Status changed to "Under Construction".

DEC 2021 - Now the City is claiming the cost of just about EVERY project they have agreed to undertake is too costly, and this is still rotting. Im starting to think if I should revert back to the ==Prove me wrong== attitude….I fear for this citys future.

OCT 2022 - And thus, I have been proven wrong. The fencing appeared. The welded gate appeared. The vents in the doors were replaced with boards for some reason. And it was wrapped in fire retardant construction wrap as its all scaffolding that extends into the actual structure bones and builds on it kinda. Its a mess and a maze and uber physical. The protections that workers have you and I dont and it truly is an unsafe place as interesting as it may seem. RESTORATIONS ARE UNDER WAY. Damn, they actually are spending money in Preston.

2023 - Restroations are now complete and the City Of Cambridge now looking at the Dickson Park Grandstand and restoring it as it is about the same year as this one. 1.5 million is the estimated cost. Status changed and updated to “Active”.