News & Resources

Placemaking Project: City of Boston Parklet Program

The Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance recognizes placemaking initiatives across the Commonwealth. This project is one of many that were featured at our 2013 conference. See other placemaking examples

On September 12, 2013, local businesses and residents attended a ribbon-cutting of Boston’s newest Parklet with Commissioner Thomas J. Tinlin in Mission Hill. Boston’s Parklet pilot has started this fall in the Mission Hill and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods, and will be expanded to Allston and Fort Point this spring. The city’s newest outdoor spaces were enthusiastically received with its partners, Lily’s Pasta and Mikes Donuts on hand to dish out a smile and a pastry. Other attendees included Mission Hill Main Streets, fellow business owners, neighborhood students from the Mission Grammar School, the Mayor’s Office and representatives of city agencies. The pictured parklets have been designed, fabricated and installed by local firm, Kyle Zick Landscape Architecture, Inc.

Each of the new parklets has been developed and implemented based on suggestions garnered by neighborhood residents and business representatives through a public process and community meetings. Local businesses volunteered to become “parklet partners” and agreed to provide day-to-day maintenance of the space as well as to dismantle and store the structure during the off-season.

Contact: Rachel Szakmary, City of Boston, rachel.szakmary@cityofboston.gov