09Oct
On: October 9, 2018
Green lights for Peabody Square!

We’re so excited to announce that the Peabody Square Revitalization project received final approval from Boston’s Public Improvement Commission at our 10/4 hearing. Paragon Landscape Construction hopes to break ground by the end of the week! The project is planned to be completed in four weeks. During the construction period, Crowley Cottrell will be implementing the landscaping plan depicted in the plans below. While temporary fencing will be erected for safety purposes, pedestrian walkways will be preserved and steps are being taken to coordinate with local businesses to ensure minimal impact. As the project moves toward completion, we plan to announce details for a celebratory ribbon-cutting party (likely mid-November) to welcome the community to our new public space!

Catch me up?

The project approval is the culmination of months of work and years of conversation about how we might create a common space that truly lived up to the community’s vision. Back in 2016, we hosted a community-wide public visioning session with COGdesign presenting initial ideas. Individuals, neighbors and civic associations, and local businesses all got involved contributing ideas that ultimately culminated in the plans you can view here: Peabody Square Plans Close-Up. The first stage of work included renovation of the Charles River Watershed Association bioswale rain garden in Peabody Square East. The rain garden was cleaned out, gravel lined, and replanted, bringing it up to current standards and incorporating the latest learnings. Boston Parks then donated of 13 large concrete planter containers which were immediately added greenery and parking control to the square. A group of stakeholders including city agencies, local businesses, and neighborhood associations have partnered to keep the plantings beautiful and litter free throughout the changing seasons over the last year two years.

So, tell me about this re-designed plaza

The plans include re-design projects on both sides of our Peabody Square Plaza. On the West side we’re introducing game tables, plantings, and a Soofa sign. Picnic tables will be added in the Spring where you can enjoy a meal, play games, or pass time with neighbors and enjoying a vibrant, new space. On the East side of Peabody Square, next to the historic Peabody Clock, there will be new benches installed within a small green-space with perennial and annual plantings.The re-designed plans will include several features to make cycling more accessible and convenient including a bike repair station outside Ashmont Cycles and several new bike racks on both sides of the Square(by the bike repair station, the curb nearest the Ashmont Grill, and the curb near the bus lot).Other features include new trash and recycling receptacles, repairs on the granite walkways, and new paving designs to enhance safety and provide sustainable green-space around the plaza. 

Wow! So, who’s paying for this?

Funding this beautiful new space was truly a community endeavor. Greater Ashmont lead a crowdfunding campaign with Patronicity that secured over $26,000 in individual donations from 135 friends, neighbors, and Dorchester small businesses, who together made an average donation of $196! This allowed the project to secure $25,000 in matching funds from Mass Development’s Commonwealth Places Fund, $10,000 from the Boston Main Streets Foundation, and additional support from institutional donors (the Martin Richard FoundationPeregrine Group (developers of 1943DotAve) and Trinity Financial (developers of the Carruth & Treadmark buildings).  Finally, the Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund awarded us an additional grant of $20,000 toward these efforts.  The total raised for this project is $96,430!

Stay Tuned

We’re so excited to finally begin to see the fruits of so much generosity, dreaming, and hard work. Thank you to all who’ve helped us make this project a reality!

We’ll be posting updates on our social media channels, so follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and keep on the lookout for more updates on our Peabody Square Revitalization project!