BEGINNING ANOTHER BUSY AND IMPACTFUL YEAR FOR THE GREENWAY BID

From advancing The Greenway’s newest park space with North Meadow on The Greenway slated to come online later this year, to helping to activate the downtown core through placemaking activities like the (re)Discover The Greenway series, and making safety improvements to the playcubes in Chin Park, the Greenway BID continues to support the dynamism of The Greenway during its first term. With each enhancement, in addition to ongoing support for the Conservancy, the BID increases its visibility among key stakeholders while making a meaningful difference in the care of the park and the vibrancy of our downtown. 

We have come a long way since the BID was created in 2018. As we look ahead to its next 5-year term, we are excited to engage BID members in the process and, as always, we thank you for your support of the BID and the work you do in helping to better how people experience The Greenway. Together, we can continue to demonstrate our collective dedication to fostering an attractive and vibrant experience in the BID district for workers, residents, and visitors alike.
LATEST GREENWAY BID NEWS

2022 BID Stakeholder Survey – Pre-Survey to collect contact information now open!
Building upon the findings of our 2019 benchmarking survey, we look forward to engaging BID members, property managers, and tenants with a 2022 iteration of the stakeholder survey. Be on the lookout for the survey in Q2 2022 – once shared, it will remain open for one month.
A Better City Conversations: The Future of The Greenway
Chris Cook, Executive Director of the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, joined A Better City members on Thursday, February 24th, and gave a presentation about the future of The Greenway. Now in his second year leading the Conservancy, Chris discussed the upcoming programming and events that are planned for this spring, as well as the continued evolution of this contemporary public park in the heart of downtown.  
 
Chris was joined by Dr. Audrey Lopez, the Conservancy’s new Director and Curator of Public Art, who shared an update on what is ahead for the park’s art and public activations throughout the corridor.

Click here to watch a recording of the event.
  
BID Board Meeting Update
The Greenway BID Board of Directors reviewed the recommendations and strategic vision of the BID Renewal Steering Committee at the February Board meeting - this entails a renewal process that would keep the current BID district boundaries intact and continue with the existing funding formula.
 
In the weeks ahead, the BID staff will be working with our legal counsel and continue the conversations with our partners at the City of Boston and MassDOT. While there is much to do in the months ahead, we are hopeful that BID members will be given the opportunity to renew the BID at our next annual meeting this fall.
 
Enhancements Update
(re)Discover The Greenway
Thanks to the support provided by BID enhancement dollars and continued collaboration with the Greenway Conservancy, the BID helped to activate the downtown core and provide additional amenities like new tables and chairs as workers and tourists returned to Boston and supported community arts activations that brought people together in support of organizations that have had a very difficult year.
 
In addition to increased visibility for the Greenway BID through in-park signage, stickers, and performances, the Greenway BID also benefited from over 200,000 views of social media ads promoting the series as well as more frequent organic social media posts from the Conservancy that highlighted the support of the BID.
 
North Meadow on The Greenway
As we continue to anticipate a Fall 2022 ribbon cutting, check out the progress being made at Parcel 2! In the photo below, you can see the boardwalk and other elements of North Meadow on The Greenway come together: 
Remembering and Honoring the Legacy of Rosemarie Sansone

The entire Greenway BID community is mourning the loss and honoring the legacy of “Downtown Boston's Biggest Cheerleader,” Rosemarie Sansone, who led the Downtown BID. In addition to the transformative impact Rosemarie made through her leadership of the Downtown BID, she was a critical partner in advising the Greenway BID as it came together and throughout its first term.
 
“When asked in January by the Globe about the best part of her job, she pointed to all the people in the downtown community who are striving to make it succeed.
 
‘Meeting so many people who are committed and engaged and care about the downtown area...it has been an extraordinary experience, working with such wonderful people,” Sansone said. ‘We’re all rowing in the same direction.’”
 
As we honor her legacy, we remain committed to continuing to row in the same direction to better downtown Boston and The Greenway for residents, workers, and visitors alike.
GREENWAY CONSERVANCY NEWS & EVENTS
Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs commissioned as 2022 Greenway Muralist
The upcoming May 2022 installation of new public artwork will feature the work of artist Rob "ProBlak" Gibbs for the Greenway mural at Dewey Square.
 
Well-known for his joyful, cosmic, and powerful depictions of Black youth in the Breathe Life mural series across Boston, Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs is a visual artist and organizer who has transformed the cultural landscape of Boston through graffiti art since the early 90’s. Gibbs is the first Black Boston-native artist to be commissioned for the mural by the Conservancy’s Public Art Program. To learn more about Rob and his practice, check out his Instagram.
 
This tenth iteration of the Dewey Square mural also comes as the Conservancy’s Public Art Program builds new strategies to engage and support Greater Boston’s local creative communities in just and inclusive ways. As one step in this process, the Conservancy’s Public Art Program is proud of its commitment to feature the work of local artists on the Dewey Square mural at least once every three years, in addition to national or international artists.
YEAR OF THE TIGER public art installation
The Greenway Conservancy and Pao Arts Center announced the commission and upcoming 2022 installation of new public artwork, YEAR OF THE TIGER, by New York City Chinatown-based artist Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong. Throughout her practice, artist and architect Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong creates transformative spaces and explores how we can share space together. Her upcoming artwork, YEAR OF THE TIGER, is a community pavilion and a site-specific public artwork that creates a new, intergenerational hub to gather outdoors, perform, or engage in public programs.
 
During the summer, this artwork will be activated through the associated Year of the Tiger Performance Series as part of a new public art collaboration between the two organizations. Additionally, the Conservancy is excited to announce the return of Boston-based artist Yu-Wen Wu’s beloved Lantern Stories to Auntie Kay & Uncle Frank Chin Park on The Greenway this season.
 
On Thursday, March 3, 2022, we hope that you can join artist Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong along with staff from Pao Arts Center and the Greenway Conservancy for a virtual Community Studio Visit! In a casual setting, Cheryl will lead a conversation about her creative practice, her love of Chinatown, and her inspiration for the YEAR OF THE TIGER pavilion, coming to Mary Soo Hoo Park on The Greenway - click here to register.
 
Gala on The Greenway & Glow in the Park
On June 9, the Greenway Conservancy will host its Gala on the Greenway at a new location to raise vital operating funds for the work of the Conservancy. This year, the beloved Rings Fountain will form a stunning centerpiece for an unforgettable outdoor cocktail party, featuring remarks from honoree Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. The next day, also at the Rings Fountain, the Conservancy will host its annual young professional's fundraising event – Glow in the Park. Sponsorship opportunities are available now and event ticket sales will launch in April.
As always, we sincerely appreciate your support and dedication to The Greenway and the Greenway BID. If you have any questions or feedback on this newsletter, please contact Tom Ryan at tryan@abettercity.org.


**Photos courtesy of the Greenway Conservancy.**