Construction on the Frieda Garcia Park is set to begin this fall and could be completed by late spring 2012, park designers told residents.
The park and playground, in the works since 2004, will be located between the Mass Pike, Clarendon Street, and Stanhope Street. It will cover about 12,000 square-feet and include benches, green space, new trees, and a children's play area.
The space is named for a longtime South End community advocate.
Local residents, John Hancock officials, and city and state officials gathered Wednesday night at the Back Bay Event Center to discuss the status of the park and hear an update from the team from the Halvorson Design Partnership.
Along with the creation of the park, which sits on land owned by the John Hancock Financial Services company, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will redevelop a portion of their land next to the Frieda Garcia Park. MassDOT officials in attendance said that trees and grass will be planted to compliment the Frieda Garcia Park, but will not be open to the public.
John Hancock is funding the park development, but will turn over ownership to the Boston Parks and Recreation upon completion of construction.
“We can finally say that we are nearing the finish line,” said Carol Fulp, senior vice president of brand communications and corporate responsibility for John Hancock.
Fulp added that she was especially excited that the park would be completed in conjunction with John Hancock’s 150 anniversary celebration.
Although many in attendance expressed their excitement to see the park finally come to fruition, some still had concerns about the security and maintenance of the park.
“My issue is what happens in the park when it is closed,” said Anthony Gordon, who lives on Stanhope Street.
Liza Meyer, chief landscape architect for Boston Parks and Recreation, said that as of now they do not plan on locking the park at night. Meyer was quick to add, however, that once a Friends of the Park association is set up and the park is opened, the city is willing to work with the neighbors to ensure the park is safe and not used for illicit activities.
Joel Miller, a local resident, added that the neighborhood would help with the responsibilities of the park.
“I think we all have personnel to get out there and patrol the area. I think you will find out that a lot of the abutters will be happy to help out,” he said.
In addition to security issues, some residents commented about the park benches that will line the exterior perimeter of the park. Many were concerned that the benches could bring people to the park at inappropriate hours and provide a sleeping area for the homeless.
Meyer assured the group that although the design is approved and they hope to begin construction, aspects of the design could be changed if residents don’t like what they see.
Along with large shade trees being added to the park, designers will install two mosaic murals by Lisa Houck as well as new-age play structures that will be built on a rubber-base material found commonly in Boston parks.
In addition to the discussion and the question and answer session, attendees had a chance to speak with Frieda Garcia, the person for whom the park is named.
“She’s been a long time civic leader in the South End who has helped transform lives, from toddlers to seniors,” commented Fulp.
Garcia, an activist in the community, has a history in the neighborhood that includes being executive director of the United South End Settlement for 20 years, board member of United Way, and a founding member of the Alianza Hispana. She said she was honored to have the park named after her.
“This is my first time seeing the redesign and I kept wondering what it was going to look like, but from my perspective it looks quite beautiful,” she said.
