Petition to name Warren Field varsity diamond for coach Joe Campania gets support, naming committee to weigh in

A petition to name the varsity baseball diamond at the northwest corner of Warren Field for longtime coach Joseph Campania drew a public hearing and preliminary positive reception at Tuesday’s Select Board meeting. Petitioner Merrill Diamond — who said Campania coached generations of Brookline youth and has a long record of awards and community service — presented a warrant article asking town meeting to designate the varsity field “Campania Diamond at Warren Field.” Naming Committee Chair Pam Roberts said the committee will consider the petition at its next meeting and had already coordinated locally with Parks & Recreation. Process and precedent: The Select Board opened a public hearing; no advance public commenters or online speakers registered opposition. The naming committee will examine the petition under its updated guidelines and make a formal recommendation back to the Select Board. Select Board members asked staff to ensure petitioners are notified of next steps and to confirm whether the Parks & Recreation Commission endorsement is in place; staff noted that committee votes traditionally occur before Select Board action and that the final town meeting vote will decide the renaming. Why it matters: The petition commemorates a coach who, petition materials say, spent nearly three decades coaching Brookline High School and youth teams and was inducted into several halls of fame. The naming would not rename Warren Field but would designate the varsity baseball diamond within the complex. Next steps: Naming Committee to review guidelines and return a recommendation; the Select Board will consider that recommendation in advance of town meeting.