Rob Gronkowski was recovering from an injury at Mass. General Hospital during his days with the New England Patriots when he spied the Charlesbank Playground below on the Esplanade. Looking out at the space every day during his stay at the hospital, he thought it would be a good spot for an “awesome playground” and kept the idea in the back of his mind as his career continued.
On Tuesday, the beloved former tight end celebrated the opening of a new playground — the Gronk Playground — on the very site he noticed years before.