BOSTON (AP) – An aging playground in Boston is getting a huge boost with a $ 1.2 million donation from NFL star Rob Gronkowski.
The former New England Patriot returned to Boston Friday to post a check for the renovation of the Charlesbank Playground on the city’s Charles River Esplanade. Close to finish for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gronkowski made a donation on behalf of his Gronk Nation Youth Foundation.
Governor Charlie Baker was there to accept the gift and thank Gronkowski. He called him “a great man with a big heart”.
The money will go to the nonprofit Esplanade Association and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation for a complete renovation of the playground, which is located near the city’s science museum.
A state legislature introduced laws to rename the Gronk Playground on Friday.
Gronkowski said he learned the importance of giving back while he was with the Patriots. He played nine seasons and won three Super Bowls with the team before retiring in 2019. He later came out of retirement to join his former teammate Tom Brady at the Buccaneers.
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