Ahern Field, playground to close Nov. 2 for soil testing

The City of Cambridge announced Oct. 27 that Ahern Field and the adjacent playground will be temporarily closed on Monday, Nov. 2, so the city's consultant, CDM Smith, can collect soil samples as part of an ongoing construction project.

Work will run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is expected to have minimal impact on the community, the city said. Closures will occur in sections as sampling progresses through the space, and crews will use a Geoprobe to collect shallow soil samples up to about 3 feet below the ground surface. The city said the sample locations were chosen to characterize the soil for disposal purposes.

Any holes created during the work will be repaired by the end of the workday, according to the announcement. Residents should expect some noise from heavy equipment during the sampling. Access around the park will be maintained throughout the day, and emergency vehicles will have access at all times.

Anyone with questions about the work, or who needs accommodations for special needs or disabilities, can contact Emma Twombly, capital building projects communications manager, at 857-320-0814 or etwombly@cambridgema.gov. Residents can also sign up for project updates on the Ahern Field project page.

Source: City of Cambridge announcement, October 28, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.