Wood Acres' Grady Putnam Field

Wood Acres' Grady Putnam Field. . In 1940 Grady Putnam moved his family to Wood Acres. He soon realized that there was no recreation area for the children to play or participate in sports. Adjoining Wood Acres was a rough wooded area under private ownership. Grady Putnam succeeded in obtaining permission from the owner to clear a part of the land for use as a neighborhood playground that opened on August 9, 1943. He immediately began to spearhead an effort to have the Montgomery County Park and Planning Commission create a park on the property. Wood Acres delegates convinced the Commission to buy about eight acres of land and create the current park with baseball diamonds, tennis and basketball courts. The baseball diamond was officially dedicated on June 21, 1947 and named Grady Putnam Field. Since then, there have been instructors to teach and supervise younger children during the summer and organized team sports for older children. In 1979 the Wood Acres Citizens Association Board of Directors obtained approval of the Montgomery County Council to improve the park. The renovated park was dedicated on July 4, 1980, in memory of Grady Putnam. Past, current and future generations of Wood Acres residents, young and old will continue to enjoy the benefits of Grady Putnam's vision, leadership, dedication and hard work. This re-dedication in honor of Grady Putnam's efforts 70 years ago to secure this wonderful park is provided by the Wood Acres Citizens Association - August, 2017.