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Collaborating with under-resourced communities in Greater Boston to create
concept plans for resilient green spaces
that reflect neighborhood vision
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Next year we celebrate COGdesign’s 25th Anniversary!
Join the party planning group.
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CALL FOR PROJECTS 2022 -- applications due October 31, 5pm. September brings the Fall equinox and the beginning of COGdesign's annual project cycle. Please forward to anyone you think may be interested in taking advantage of this opportunity to bring their community together to collaborate on a pro bono design.
Photo below: COG's community partner for Symphony Park, Fenway, Marie Fukuda, with ED Jennifer Kimball and ProjectAssessment Intern Robyn Lee on a site visit early September
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CURRENT PROJECTS:
We're excited to tell you more about the progress of our 2020 and 2021 projects at the Project Showcase next month, but here's a brief synopsis. Seven of eleven 2020 projects are complete with one on hold and three continuing to make steady progress — no small feat during a pandemic. COG designers have been creative, flexible and patient as they have adapted to online community engagement.
photo to right: detail from concept plan for Factory Hill Park, Hyde Park, 2020
Dartmouth Green in the South End and Stoneman Sensory Gardens on the Esplanade, two of COG's six 2021 projects, are complete as well. Stay tuned for more information about all the 2021 projects: Mill Creek Natural Park in Chelsea, Charlesgate South in the Fenway, ISBCC gardens (Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center) in Roxbury, and the Neponset Greenway benches project in Mattapan.
Mill Creek Park, Chelsea, 2021, is moving towards conceptual design after two successful community engagement sessions organized and presented by a team of four landscape architects from Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA). MVVA has been in discussion with COG since September of 2020 to learn more about our process as they consider launching a pro bono wing of the company. Mill Creek Park, with its complex issues of land ownership, toxic soil, toxic water, and city permitting, was a perfect place for MVVA to jump in and engage in our process. The designers are working in tandem with environmental consulting firm Horsley Witten, which is preparing reports on environmental remediation of the water and the soil.
RECENT PROJECT UPDATES:
In Construction —
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Barnard Place Park, South Boston, 2019; photo above, right
- Paige Academy, Roxbury, 2018 ongoing construction
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Abolition Row Park, New Bedford, 2017 photo below
- Everett Ave/Jones Hill food forest, Dorchester, 2016
- Magnolia Street Garden, Roxbury, 2019 (out for bid)
- Gore Street Community Garden, Mission Hill, 2018
- Mattahunt Elementary School, Mattapan, 2018 (seeking volunteers)
- Fenway Victory Gardens, Fenway, 2018 (one permit away from building)
Currently Fundraising —
- Conservatory Lab Charter School, Dorchester, 2020
- Shore Road Park, Waltham, 2020
- Fannie Lou Hamer Garden Expansion, Dorchester, 2020 (seeking Boston Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding)
- Codman Burying Ground, Dorchester, 2020 (seeking CPA funding)
- Charlestown Peace Park, Charlestown, 2020 (seeking Landscape Architect for construction drawings; received $500,000 from CPA)
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- Franklin Field Elders Community Garden, 2018 (received $400,000 in funding; BHA hiring architect for construction documents)
- Egleston Square Peace Park, Roxbury/Jamaica Plain, 2017 (sorting fiscal agent for $150,000 CPA funding)
- MotherBrook Arts & Community Center, Dedham, 2015 (ongoing)
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TWO PROJECT PROFILES:
Barnard Place Park, South Boston (2018), is under construction. This dedicated neighborhood group received $150,000 of Boston CPA funding, created their own non-profit, gained ownership of the land from the Department of Neighborhood Development, hired COG designer Courtney Goode to execute construction drawings and are delighted to see the new fence up and new pavers down. With less than 10% tree cover, South Boston ranks near the bottom of all Boston neighborhoods. After years of concern about development of the adjacent, abandoned green space, Barnard Place neighbors are thrilled to have created a new park that is here to stay.
Photo above: construction at Barnard Place Park; below, rendering and plan view of the park
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Codman Burying Ground, Dorchester (2020), has a complete concept design. Landscape architect Courtney Goode with her studio intern, Kayla Murgo, have designed a hybrid park-cemetery space in the front 1.5 acres of land adjacent to Tremont Street. Locked gates and a high stone wall have kept neighbors out of this 3.5 acre historic green space for decades. The front of the cemetery which has never been used for burials will be transformed into a public park with diverse programs, planting, and spaces that reflect and celebrate Codman Square's diverse residents. The remaining three acres of the cemetery will require much updating of dilapidated headstones, tombs, paths, and fences. The concept plan includes new seating and interpretive signs that highlight important historical, cultural, and ecological heritage. Second Church Dorchester and COG are grateful to COG's initial team of designers Shannon Goheen and Susannah Coronna who did an enormous amount of ecological research and plant ID on site.
below, Codman Burying Ground concept plan which preserves the angel wings layout and creates a new 1.5 acre park along Norfolk St.
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BOARD NEWS
This month we welcome three new board members: Liz Stetson, Guadelupe Garcia and Jean Krasnow, who is returning to the board after two years and will take on the role of Treasurer. Liz is a landscape architect who recently completed a plan for the Fannie Lou Hamer Community Garden in Dorchester. Lupe is Program Manager for the Trust for Public Land's Boston Parks for People Program. Many thanks to David Jay for his six years of service and to Michelle Moon for her valuable three years on the board. Both are stepping down at the end of the year.
NEW STAFF
Project Assessment Intern:
This summer we welcomed Robyn Lee, a graduate student in Tufts University master's program in Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning. One of our current goals is to conduct an assessment of how many of COG's projects have been built and which sites need help to reach fruition. Robyn sent surveys to all of our community partners and we visited seven sites this summer. Robyn's report is due next month.
Operations Assistant:
We are seeking an operations assistant for eight hours a week. Help us reach out. Please forward resumes and letters here.
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What Do We Have in Common? Opening event September 22, 12:30pm. Commissioned by the Friends of the Public Garden, this immersive, experiential artwork by Janet Zweig seeks to engage park visitors in reflections about our shared responsibilities to each other and the spaces we share.
Ecological Landscape Alliance events - free for ELA members:
VOGUE: Read an article on Beatrix Farrand in the August issue of Vogue magazine, including gorgeous photos of Dumbarton Oaks by Annie Leibovitz.
below: leadership team meeting Codman Burying Ground, Dorchester, 2020
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