WINTER HAVEN, FL – December 3, 2025 – The City of Winter Haven held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today marking the official completion and opening of the redeveloped Chain of Lakes Park, the former spring training home of the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians.
The $20 million project, developed in partnership with Polk County and Polk County Sports Marketing, transformed the site into a facility dedicated to amateur and collegiate baseball. Demolition of existing structures began April 8, 2024, and lasted approximately six weeks, with construction starting in late summer 2024.
Completed features include:
- Four collegiate-level artificial turf baseball fields
- Dugouts, batting cages, and team pavilions
- Expanded fan seating areas
- Increased parking capacity
- A new entrance building containing ticket booths, concession areas, restrooms, and team rooms
The redevelopment preserves elements of the site’s major league history while establishing it as a permanent venue for amateur and collegiate baseball events.
The first tournament at the newly renovated Chain of Lakes Park is scheduled for this weekend, December 6-7, 2025, as ProspectWire hosts its Winter Classic. The event will feature 85 registered teams across age divisions 13U through 18U. Games will be played across three Polk County venues: Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale, and Northeast Regional Park in Davenport. Nothing further at this time.
Source: City of Winter Haven & ProspetWire
