Page 13 - BusinessWest August 18, 2025

“The greater
the exposure to
Westfield, the
greater commerce
there is in the
city.”
McCabe agreed that the benefits of the project are
many, and would include the potential of hosting regional
tournaments on both the high school and collegiate lev-
els, possibly working with Westfield State University — all
of which would bring more visitors to the city, in the same
way the Westfield Starfires, now winding down their sev-
enth season of play in the Futures Collegiate Baseball
League, or the city’s 14 municipal pickleball courts, have
done.
“The greater the exposure to Westfield, the greater
commerce there is in the city,” the mayor added. “And it’s
not all Westfield residents. People will stop by one of the
cafés downtown, or have a drink with their friends after-
ward, and all of those things are very good, obviously, for
the city. So that’s what we’re trying to embrace.”
Waterfield added that Elm Street Plaza has enhanced
Westfield’s visibility as a cultural focal point; in fact, the
city received a Massachusetts Cultural Council designa-
tion last fall.
That’s important, she said, because it brings in market-
ing dollars to organizations working collectively to raise
the city’s profile. For example, an organization called Art-
works Westfield puts on eight Friday nights concerts at the plaza
during the summer, all free to the public.
“Those seem to be drawing folks in,” she said. “It’s just a good
time on a Friday night — bring your lawn chair, there’s food trucks,
there’s beer trucks. It’s very family-friendly. I see people with their
dogs.”
The prevailing theme with many of these efforts is to get people
to notice Westfield — and come back.
“I think if you’re from Westfield, you know what we have to offer
here. There’s a lot here,” Waterfield said. “But people might think,
‘I’m from Longmeadow; am I going to make the trek to Westfield?’
Well, yes, actually, you should. You know, come on Thursday to
the farmers market and then stay for dinner. Come on Friday and
have dinner beforehand and then go to a concert. Go see a baseball
game.”
Amanda Waterfield says events in Westfield, from Friday night
concerts to Starfires games, have a multiplier effect when
visitors stay in the city to eat and drink.
Staff Photo
What visitors find, she added, is that Westfield has numerous
important elements that contribute to a robust community, from
Westfield State University to Baystate Noble Hospital to Barnes
Municipal Airport (and the Air National Guard’s 104th Tactical
Fighter Group, which recently procured new F-35 fighter jets) to a
river and a rail trail.
In addition, “I’m encouraged by the lack of crime downtown,
which is wonderful,” she
said. “And I give the big
businesses downtown
Westfield
Continued on page 15 >>
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