Designed by the famed Donald Ross as a WPA project in the 1930s, George Wright was built on a site unfit for a golf course. There was too much ledge, and what wasn't ledge was hill and wetland. If environmentalists had the say 70 years ago that they do today, this golf course never would have been built. George Wright is at the mercy of the elements. The antiquated drainage system needs work, and since there isn't an irrigation system, the course's conditions are fickle. Too much rain and it becomes a swamp. And when there is a drought, the fairways are burned out. Then again, this is one of the best golf buys in the Boston area. Maybe we have become too accustomed to manicured conditions. Maybe it is more courageous to hit shots from hard-pan lies occasionally. It's the way the game was played a century ago. This is a public golf course that has a large committee called the Friends of George Wright that work with Mayor Menino's office in order to keep Boston's golf courses beautiful.

The city refurbished the basketball courts in recent years, users said, and the children's play equipment is in mint condition. One of two water fountains was working. For a city park, it doesn't need any improvements," said 51-year-old Derryl Hopkins, who plays basketball there several times a week. I think Tommy [Menino] has done a great job with the parks."

The Moynihan Wading Pool is located here and has a water depth between one inch and two feet, and admission is free. Just up the road is the Martini Shell, a bandstand decorated with images of creatures and plants. Both the Moynihan Playground and the Martini Shell lawn link the residential neighborhood to the Neponset River.

Ross Playground near Cleary Square is also known as Wesley G. Ross Field, which is used for baseball and soccer teams as well as other sports throughout the year. Take Reddy Street up to the field. There's a used auto dealer with colored flags usually around the lot. Reddy street takes you right into the parking lot of Ross. It's actually just past Mattapan into Hyde Park.

This is also known as the Edumund A. Connell Field and is not to be confused with Smith Field in Brighton, even though a lot of maps have it labeled as Smith Field. This athletic field is across Reservation Road from the Dooley Playground.

Known as the Charles F. Weider playground, in memory of Charles F. Weider of Roslindale, a community leader and veteran who served his country during World War I. It contains an out-of-date, derelict play lot and a basketball court more frequently used for street hockey, an unintended use.