Crocker's stated purpose for the gift was to encourage the engagement of the city's youth in outdoor recreational athletic activities.

At the time, the city's public schools did not have organized athletics programs, but these were soon started in order to capitalize on the gift.

Crocker hired the noted Olmsted Brothers firm to design an athletic campus that would provide facilities for baseball, football, and tennis, as well as a running track and a field house.

Its features were designed by Olmsted employee Percival Gallagher to be as durable as possible, using stone, brick, and concrete, so that maintenance costs would be low.

[2] Since its construction, the field as served as the principal playing ground for high school athletic teams, hosting popular events such as rivalry football games with neighboring Leominster.