(re)Discover The Greenway & Districtwide Dynamism

As more people return to in-office work, more people are remembering what they love about being downtown. Thanks to the support provided by BID enhancement dollars and the BID’s latest collaboration with the Greenway Conservancy, 50+ new inviting, engaging, and accessible activations are here to welcome folks back and invite them to engage with The Greenway and one another.
 
(re)Discover The Greenway will both activate the downtown core as workers and tourists return to Boston and support community arts activations that will bring people together in support of organizations that have had a very difficult year. Through a boosted engagement and events program, the Conservancy and BID will enliven The Greenway and bring vibrancy to Boston’s downtown as our city continues to safely reopen.
 
There is no doubt that the downtown public realm is improved by thoughtful, accessible placemaking that enhances and enlivens shared spaces like The Greenway. These exciting outdoor programs and additional amenities supported by BID enhancements funding are a demonstration of our collective dedication to fostering an attractive and vibrant experience in the BID district for workers, residents, and visitors alike.
 
More information and programming details are featured in signage throughout the park and are included as the third item in the Greenway BID News & Updates section below – please be sure to share with property managers and other interested stakeholders at your property.
 
Thank you for your continued support of this pivotal place in our downtown’s public realm and all you do to support the people that enjoy it. If you have any questions or feedback on this newsletter, please contact Tom Ryan at tryan@abettercity.org.
LATEST NEWS & UPDATES
Annual Meeting & Proxy Form Reminder
We hope that you can join us on Wednesday, September 15 from 12:00 – 1:30pm via Zoom for the 2021 Greenway BID Annual Meeting.
 
At this meeting you will hear about issues that could impact your property and region; plans to activate and enhance the Greenway parks; important priorities ahead for the BID; and the election of new members to the BID Board of Directors.

We also look forward to welcoming Greenway Conservancy Executive Director Chris Cook to his first Greenway BID Annual Meeting after beginning his tenure at the Conservancy earlier this year.
 
Please be on the lookout for a formal agenda and please be sure to fill out your proxy vote sent to your property’s representative and send back to tryan@abettercity.org.
(re)Discover The Greenway Programming Details
Reflecting a commitment to making thoughtful enhancements along the entirety of The Greenway, abutting property owners who serve as members of the Greenway BID provided and leveraged enhancement funds to make the (re)Discover The Greenway programmatic initiatives and placemaking improvements possible. The Greenway BID plays an essential role in supporting an appealing, accessible, and vibrant experience for all that visit The Greenway to gather, play, unwind, and explore. Also, in conjunction with this programming series, stay tuned for a special Greenway BID gathering on The Greenway!
 
Programming details and placemaking support detailed below:
Tuesday Tunes - Unwind with Free Concerts Every Tuesday

Lunchtime performances at Dewey Square Park, curated by AfroDesiaCity, mid-August through October, 12 pm-1 pm

Youth Music & Movement sessions at the Rings Fountain, by Boston Music Project, August, 4 pm - 5 pm
Wandering Wednesdays - Explore all 1.5mi of The Greenway with performances that move every week

Lunchtime performances with a new location weekly, curated by the Boston Music Project, mid-August through October, 12 pm - 1 pm
Takeout Thursdays - Grab a meal and enjoy your park with music and movies

Lunchtime performances at Dewey Square Park by Berklee College of Music students, mid-August through October, 12 pm -1 pm

After work performances at Chin Park play sessions, curated by Pao Arts Center, August, 5 pm - 6 pm

Evening movies at Dewey Square Park, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21 in partnership with the City of Boston Mayor's Office of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment
Lion Dances

Celebrate Chinatown, with Lion Dance performances parading through the streets in a new weekly tradition weekly on Saturdays from mid-July through September in Auntie Kay & Uncle Frank Chin Park. These events are possible with the support of Chinatown Main Street, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England, the Chinatown Business Association, and the City of Boston.
Details on the musicians, artists, and movie selections will be available on the Greenway Conservancy’s website. Additional programming will likely be added, including likely caroling programs in December in partnership with the North End Music and Performing Arts Center.

The Greenway Conservancy is committed to the safety of all visitors, staff, and partners on The Greenway. Programs are weather-dependent, will follow all current COVID-19 guidelines, and may be rescheduled.
Additional Amenities and Placemaking Improvements

In addition to these programmatic initiatives, the Greenway BID has funded new sets of park-grade tables, chairs, and umbrellas for parkwide along The Greenway. These additional amenities will welcome residents, visitors, and downtown workers to gather and unwind.
North Meadow on The Greenway Groundbreaking

On July 14, an official groundbreaking was held to celebrate the progress being made in advancing Boston’s newest park space, North Meadow on The Greenway (formerly known as Parcel 2).

The free public event for stakeholders, featuring a short speaking program including Conservancy and Greenway Business Improvement District leadership, Acting Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler, and elected officials representing The Greenway including Mayor Kim Janey, State Representative Aaron Michlewitz, State Senator Joe Boncore, and City Councilor Lydia Edwards.
Over the next few weeks, MassDOT’s contractor, McCourt Construction, will be completing their required preliminary work, including a new irrigation box that will be vital for the success of the plantings included in the final park design. While this work is in its final stages, the Greenway Conservancy’s contractor for park construction, NELM, will be onsite for construction test pits. After McCourt Construction has completed its work, NELM will begin park construction in earnest.

As the northern terminus of the park, North Meadow is both a gateway to The Greenway and a pocket of open space for residents and visitors to the surrounding neighborhoods in the West End and North End. Reflecting a commitment to making thoughtful enhancements along the entirety of The Greenway, Greenway BID members provided and leveraged enhancement funds to make this project and placemaking improvement possible. 
GREENWAY CONSERVANCY NEWS & EVENTS
Greenway Conservancy Names Audrey Lopez as next Director and Curator of Public Art

In July, the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy announced the selection of Dr. Audrey Lopez as their next Director and Curator of Public Art. Dr. Lopez is slated to begin her tenure at the Conservancy in mid-September.

Lopez joins the Conservancy following her work as the Public Art and Engagement Curator at the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture and, previously, as the Curator of Community Engagement at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Santa Barbara.

Lopez has built a strong track record of curating, producing, and managing award-winning public art projects by both nationally recognized and emerging local artists in outdoor venues across museums and public agencies that engage and resonate with diverse communities.


“Audrey’s years of experience at the intersection of public art and inclusive creative placemaking will serve as an invaluable resource as the Conservancy looks to our next chapter of inspiring and relevant art on The Greenway,” said Chris Cook, Executive Director of the Greenway Conservancy.

Read the full press release from the Conservancy here. 
Greenway Conservancy Events
While the final days of summer may be fast approaching, there is still so much to explore and opportunities to gather and unwind on The Greenway!

  • The weekly free tours of The Greenway continue
  • The Greenway Fitness Program will run through the end of September
  • The Greenway Carousel will drop to Friday-Sunday hours on Sunday, October 3
  •  The Greenway Artisan Market will end on Saturday, October 30
  • The beer and wine gardens will be open through the end of October
  • The Boston Public Market at Dewey Square will continue through mid-November
  • The regular fall festival season is scheduled with Experience Chinatown, the Lantern Festival, the Boston Local Food Festival, and the Caribbean Expo, and more
  • Fountains are on through Columbus Day

For the latest updates on The Greenway and the activities of the Greenway Conservancy, you can explore the Conservancy’s calendar.

**Photos courtesy the Greenway Conservancy.**