Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, a move that bestows both recognition and potential tax breaks to the venerable ballpark.
“Recognizing the incredible history of this ballpark through the National Register designation is a great way to bring the national parks and the national pastime together,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “Fenway is a treasured American icon for baseball fans across the country. It, along with the Boston area’s 11 national parks, helps attract visitors from around the world to one of our nation’s most vibrant cities, expanding opportunities for business and tourism that generate economic returns for Boston and the nearby communities.”
“John Henry, Tom Werner, and I, on behalf of our partners, made a commitment to preserve Fenway Park more than a decade ago, and we are pleased that as a result of that renovation effort, Fenway Park will now be counted among America’s most treasured historical places, ensuring that it is protected and enjoyed by future generations,” said Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino. “This important designation is a significant part of Fenway Park’s 100th anniversary celebrations, and we are proud and excited to celebrate it formally alongside the National Park Service and our preservation partners during this 2012 anniversary season.”
With its listing this year, Fenway Park is the only sports venue currently used by a professional sports team (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL) to be so designated.
The National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Listing in the National Register makes Fenway Park eligible for federal historic rehabilitation tax credits administered by the National Park Service.
Image courtesy Library of Congress.
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