We asked our local District 8 City Councilor to write a column for us, and the first one was published in the November issue of the paper. That one was slightly edited for space considerations (in fact we had to leave out the sentence that explained this was the first of his columns); this is the original.
Mike Ross's new monthly column
by Mike Ross
There are many reasons why Boston is a world-class city. It has a long, rich history of innovation, from the first public high school in the nation to America?s first subway. We have some of the world?s best colleges and hospitals in our own backyard. Boston is also home to some of the country?s oldest open spaces.
The Boston Common, America?s first park, and the Back Bay Fens are showing their age, and we need to bring them to their full potential. Currently, the City of Boston spends less on its parks and open spaces most other major American cities. We can do better than this, and must work to reclaim and improve our open spaces.
By bringing businesses, city leaders, and community groups together, we will revitalize our open spaces in an efficient and affordable way. We?re making great progress throughout Boston to bring new life to our open spaces.
One of the projects I?ve worked on for the past several years is improving the area of Boylston Street between Massachusetts Avenue and Hemenway Street. It took collaboration with all the stakeholders in that area?city officials, an ever-evolving group of business owners on that stretch of the street, and Berklee College?to get everyone on the same page. Last week, the community came together and finally celebrated the result of those years of work: The addition of a vibrant new plaza to the Fenway neighborhood.
This isn?t only an improvement to the infrastructure, which was sorely needed. These changes will bring new life to an area of the Fenway that was once ignored. As a result, new energy is coming to that part of the neighborhood.
Soon, residents and visitors will be able to buy a book at Berklee Books, grab a cup of coffee from Pavement Coffeehouse, and sit on the plaza to enjoy them. They will be able to return that same evening to enjoy a world-class dinner. We worked to create a space where musicians, such as Berklee students, can perform, bringing even more visitors to this section of Boylston Street. This will help businesses thrive as we start to recover from the recession and will ultimately make our community stronger.
The Fenway is experiencing dramatic change for the better. There?s the $90 million federal project that will restore the banks of the Muddy River. The city partnered with Emmanuel College to make the Roberto Clemente fields safer for students and residents, and the Museum of Fine Arts will soon open a renovated entrance.
Another area of the Fenway that we?re working to improve is the Back Bay Fens, specifically repairing and leasing the city-owned Duck House. The Duck House was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, and has stood at the junction of East and West Fenway for over 100 years. It has been abandoned since a fire in 1986, making the area look and feel unsafe to those who want to use the park. I have been working closely with the Fenway Civic Association, Historic Boston, and Boston Parks and Recreation Department to bring a business or visitor?s center to this building. This will provide a destination for residents and tourists, attracting more people to the area. Imagine a place where people can rent bicycles and enjoy the beauty of this historic park. Perhaps a cafe will open there, providing a place where visitors can enjoy a snack after a day in the Fens.
On the other side of the district, we?re working to bring new life to the Boston Common. My colleagues Sal LaMattina, Bill Linehan, myself, and stakeholders around America?s oldest park continue to implement the findings of last year?s Special Committee on the Boston Common. I worked with the Parks Department and other officials to extend the lease on an abandoned men?s comfort station on the Common from three years to 10 years. Extending the lease encourages a business owner to invest significantly in the structure, which increases the odds of its success. The additional visitors brought to the Common will have a positive impact on the areas that surround the park, including Downtown Crossing and the Theater District.
I believe that small businesses, such as restaurants, have the power to drastically transform a neighborhood. When the Special Committee on the Boston Common went to New York, we saw parks that had been hives of drug activity transformed into vibrant public spaces in which people felt safe because of increased foot traffic. The Shake Shack in Bryant Park has hour-long lines for its famous hamburgers, and diners enjoy ample outdoor seating around the restaurant.
Boston is a world-class city with a long history of innovation. We must continue to provide open space that lives up to its potential. I?m pleased by the progress we?ve made in improving areas of the Fenway and the Boston Common. But we must continue to improve these areas so we will have these valuable public spaces for generations to come.
City Council President Mike Ross lives on Mission Hill.