| "The Community Outreach Group for Landscape Design (COGdesign) provides under-resourced community groups in greater Boston the opportunity to design open space in their communities at no cost. Landscape architects working pro bono help communities envision bringing neighborhood open space projects to fruition. After design plans are drawn community-initiated projects move forward with next steps: fundraising, construction drawings, project oversight and construction. With twenty-two years of experience matching landscape designers with community groups to create design plans as those communities envision them, COGdesign focuses on facilitating community meetings where all voices can be heard. We accept on average eight projects a year based on need. The criteria for acceptance closely aligns with that for an ‘environmental justice’ community. At least one of the following is required: there is a high percentage of low-income residents, a large number of people of color and little English spoken among adults. COGdesign is thrilled to have taken on the revitalization of the Lowney/McGrath park in Charlestown as one of our eleven 2020 projects. To have the opportunity to work with the Charlestown Coalition, an organization which is focused on community and healing, perfectly matches our mission. The landscape architects who have volunteered for this project are excited to listen to and learn from the Coalition’s youth group Turn It Around as well as all the immediate neighbors and community residents. With the idea that the Peace Park could continue to serve as a memorial for Robert McGrath and go on to become a memorial space for all those who are no longer with us due to violence and overdose, design opportunities are wide open. COG looks forward to learning more about what the community would like to see and we encourage all those interested in this project to fill out our survey. Free and open to all, parks are the quintessential expression of democracy. Parks are a place you can go alone or together, where you can sit quietly or join in a community event. A park is a place where ideally you can breathe fresh air thanks to surrounding plants, run and play, read a book or rub shoulders with neighbors you might not ordinarily meet. It is a place for introverts and extroverts. A place for all. The Charlestown Peace Park project represents an opportunity to foster connection in a community that has been racially and economically divided for too long. COGdesign believes every person should have access to nature — whether that’s a small urban park or a national park. The importance of neighborhood green space has never been more important as we try to cope with living in a pandemic. The healthy and functional landscapes we design with our clients are a destination in times of stress. They appreciate in value over time, providing a multitude of benefits at various scales—from reducing urban heat island effects and cleaning stormwater runoff to improving the mental and physical health of those who interact with these spaces." -Jennifer Kimball, COGdesign |
