Copley Square Revamp | Back Bay

Stlin said:
As for benches, that's why I think people aren't using the grass - there's a ton more programmed seating than there used to be.
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And yet, not as much seating as back in the '70s! I wonder why the Ancestors ever decided to remove this hardscape plaza with ample seating...
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MjolnirMan said:
On the old lawn, you could walk over, plop down, and feel like you've got some buffer in an oasis.
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Not that StreetView is the best at saying what happens all the time - but - there's very little apparent "plopping down" that has gone on in that old lawn - more people clustering around the shade of the trees in the heat and avoiding the area during the breezy fall/winter/springs.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UzFXCs5wjL9rrLWS6
 
as02155 said:
Not that StreetView is the best at saying what happens all the time - but - there's very little apparent "plopping down" that has gone on in that old lawn - more people clustering around the shade of the trees in the heat and avoiding the area during the breezy fall/winter/springs.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UzFXCs5wjL9rrLWS6
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Yeah, this is what I keep thinking. For all the nostalgia for the grass, I really don't remember people using it much. If I ever sat down in that grass, I don't remember it. I poked through Street View and they seemed to favor taking pictures on sunny, busy days, but I couldn't find more than single-digit number of people on the grass. There's the one photo that keeps getting posted to show how busy the grass used to be. That's more people than I remember regularly being there, and even that is like a dozen people (with a telephoto lens that makes people look more packed together). And that's ignoring the ~6 months a year when it'd be too cold or muddy to even consider lounging in the grass. I think anyone who wanted to hang out on grass would go the Public Garden or Esplanade. Copley was never really that kind of place.

That's how I remember it, anyways. If anyone regularly used that grass, I'd love to hear what you did there.

The grass always seemed more ornamental. That is also a good thing, but then I also don't care as much if the grassy area is now smaller/moved/split up/whatever. It can be ornamental in a new corner of the plaza, and still serve the single-digit number of people who want to sit there.
 
ritchiew said:
Yeah, this is what I keep thinking. For all the nostalgia for the grass, I really don't remember people using it much. If I ever sat down in that grass, I don't remember it. I poked through Street View and they seemed to favor taking pictures on sunny, busy days, but I couldn't find more than single-digit number of people on the grass. There's the one photo that keeps getting posted to show how busy the grass used to be. That's more people than I remember regularly being there, and even that is like a dozen people (with a telephoto lens that makes people look more packed together). And that's ignoring the ~6 months a year when it'd be too cold or muddy to even consider lounging in the grass. I think anyone who wanted to hang out on grass would go the Public Garden or Esplanade. Copley was never really that kind of place.

That's how I remember it, anyways. If anyone regularly used that grass, I'd love to hear what you did there.

The grass always seemed more ornamental. That is also a good thing, but then I also don't care as much if the grassy area is now smaller/moved/split up/whatever. It can be ornamental in a new corner of the plaza, and still serve the single-digit number of people who want to sit there.
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A (non-cranky, "everything was better before!") voice of sanity. Bless you, sir.
 
From an urban dweller's perspective: a relatively small patch of grass in an area without much other places with grass is really . . . an unposted dog relief park. So, sensible people don't bother sitting there. It's not rocket science.
 
PercyL said:
From an urban dweller's perspective: a relatively small patch of grass in an area without much other places with grass is really . . . an unposted dog relief park. So, sensible people don't bother sitting there. It's not rocket science.
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Yeah - that's the 'unspoken rule' that I quickly learned after moving into the city - every grassy expanse is not actually a field for humans.

That being said - the mounded things in Cambridge - at City Hall and at Cambridge Crossing really do seem to work well as places for people to sit/lounge. More than I expect, every time.
 
PercyL said:
From an urban dweller's perspective: a relatively small patch of grass in an area without much other places with grass is really . . . an unposted dog relief park. So, sensible people don't bother sitting there. It's not rocket science.
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Awful dog owners and their annoying animals have ruined parks, airports and now they are coming for our grocery stores.
 
as02155 said:
Yeah - that's the 'unspoken rule' that I quickly learned after moving into the city - every grassy expanse is not actually a field for humans.

That being said - the mounded things in Cambridge - at City Hall and at Cambridge Crossing really do seem to work well as places for people to sit/lounge. More than I expect, every time.
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Mounds involve more effort than most people taking dogs out to relieve are willing to do; much more importantly, their grade/pitch means that rain will rinse them much more effectively than small flat patches of grass...
 
Aside from the fact that there is no Star Market in Haverhill, MA (the nearest "sibling" option would be the Shaw's in Plaistow, NH), I'm unaware of any in-state grocery store parking lot that has a bunch of raised seating areas, manicured trees and grass, an intentionally designed layout with expensive/quality materials used throughout, and a fountain -- all surrounded by architectural masterpieces and plenty of retail, dining, and entertainment options.

You'll have to share the actual location of this marvelous parking lot (since it's certainly not Haverhill).
 
In light of all the handwringing about the removal of grass and the supposed reduction in pedestrian use of the new Copley Square, it was pretty hard not to laugh when I came across this 12-year-old post in the recently bumped parks thread:

paperless paul said:
And of course Copley Square, which is one of may favorites. But there was nobody there today. Or at least not on the grass, everyone was one the benches at the side.

JWSRLps.jpg
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chrisbrat said:
Aside from the fact that there is no Star Market in Haverhill, MA (the nearest "sibling" option would be the Shaw's in Plaistow, NH), I'm unaware of any in-state grocery store parking lot that has a bunch of raised seating areas, manicured trees and grass, an intentionally designed layout with expensive/quality materials used throughout, and a fountain -- all surrounded by architectural masterpieces and plenty of retail, dining, and entertainment options.

You'll have to share the actual location of this marvelous parking lot (since it's certainly not Haverhill).
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Figure of speech humor, Chris, like the oceanfront real estate in Iowa. The point was ‘anything looks good with an open air market on it’. Just look at that Cisco Brewers Seaport. An open air market is the best pig lipstick there is.

But seriously, the Design-By-Committee Copley Square Plaza is what it is. And it really works well if that Farmers Market stays up 100% of the time. The problem is when it’s taken down.

…..and re your characterization of “expensive/quality materials” - - see post #393 referencing the photo in post #375 - - your definition of “quality” is different from mine, but everyone’s entitled to their own opinion and I am glad some people are happy with that space.

Maybe Stan Grossfeld can get Janet Marie Smith to consult the fix like she did in the Globe for City Hall Plaza a couple of days ago.;)
 
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BronsonShore said:
In light of all the handwringing about the removal of grass and the supposed reduction in pedestrian use of the new Copley Square, it was pretty hard not to laugh when I came across this 12-year-old post in the recently bumped parks thread:
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In all seriousness, that's, what, 5 people in that random "strangely, nobody is using the grass today" captioned photo - how does that compare to post-redesign? That is indeed what my old man memory recalls as unusual, minimum utilization of the grass for lounging on a nice day.

as02155 said:
Not that StreetView is the best at saying what happens all the time - but - there's very little apparent "plopping down" that has gone on in that old lawn - more people clustering around the shade of the trees in the heat and avoiding the area during the breezy fall/winter/springs.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UzFXCs5wjL9rrLWS6
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Well, there's always:

The Boston Book Festival, October 2023
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October 2015 on Yelp
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June 2017, Yelp (featuring a "food truck!")
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September 2014 on Yelp (Featuring farmers market stalls!)
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May 2016, Yelp
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April 2016, Yelp
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Boston Summer Arts Weekend, July 2015
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And, finally, Carlsbadcrawl, 2009

Eyes yawn when streets of mobile providers dominate, but an awakening shove shook us from our observational slumber. A wide green lawn, surrounded by weathered benches, lured us by the sounds of chatty conversations and cold fountain water trickled around the feet of the tranquil. A large church loomed overhead and memories of European adventures accompanied our snooze in Copley Square Park.​

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But I'm sure you're right - I'm misremembering, and can't trust my lying eyes! The current park(ing lot) is much better!!!
 
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chrisbrat said:
Aside from the fact that there is no Star Market in Haverhill, MA (the nearest "sibling" option would be the Shaw's in Plaistow, NH), I'm unaware of any in-state grocery store parking lot that has a bunch of raised seating areas, manicured trees and grass, an intentionally designed layout with expensive/quality materials used throughout, and a fountain -- all surrounded by architectural masterpieces and plenty of retail, dining, and entertainment options.

You'll have to share the actual location of this marvelous parking lot (since it's certainly not Haverhill).
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Haverhill, NH maybe? ;) https://maps.app.goo.gl/KZVCDrcv8rxYnYdY6

(that location was the flagship of Butson's Supermarket chain when I was a kid, the Butson family lived about a mile or two away on Goose Lane, the road between Woodsville and Swiftwater. Shaw's bought the whole chain about 20 years ago. Last time I was there, this past spring, it was a little worse for wear. People in other parts of town tend to cross the river and hit the Hannaford's in Bradford).
 
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