I still think it's a failure of planning/coordination that we did not get a nice line of parks all the way from Summer St to the harbor. It would've defined the space so much better. Instead we have kind of overlapping areas which might still work when all lots are built out, but more likely it's going to be awkward...
Theres a park in the middle of the L 3-6 parcels, that leads directly down the pedestrian corridor between pwc and 121 seaport. Then you cross the street into the memorial or you can take a right through the M parcels plaza. Then after that theres another park directly on the water at fan pier or you can walk to the pier 4 park. Its gonna turn out fine. Other than the green way boston and cambridge are a collection of many seaparate parks and squares spaced out enough to keep urbanity but give small getaways in pockets all over the city. I think thats basically what theyre going for here. The greenway is the exception not the rule. Most of boston has many small parks and squares like post office square that are not connected to eachother but are huge assests to the immediately surrounding areas.
While I don't think a big linear park is a necessary feature for the Seaport, I do think it would have worked really well. And the Greenway is not the only linear park system in Boston: the Harborwalk definitely has elements of a continuous park, and then there's that big thing called the Emerald Necklace that Boston is kind of known for.
While I don't think a big linear park is a necessary feature for the Seaport, I do think it would have worked really well. And the Greenway is not the only linear park system in Boston: the Harborwalk definitely has elements of a continuous park, and then there's that big thing called the Emerald Necklace that Boston is kind of known for.
Nice pictures.. They almost look like renderings!
This park came out really nice. It's a great addition to the Seaport.
For the folks who really like this park, I respectfully ask: Why do all those pictures show such a dearth of humanoids actually IN the park? Is it not yet open to the public? Is it just a piece of modern art to appreciate from afar?
I see those pictures and think 'Neutron Bomb'.
We said the same thing about the Greenway. Over and over when it first opened. Wring hands, palpitate...
Just give it time.
Actually, if you look back at it, the folks here did NOT say the same thing about the Greenway that they are saying about this park.
We COMPLAINED about the Greenway until major changes were made to it to become more the more human-friendly space it is today.
Folks here are a lot more sanguine about this park as it is now. It's just my opinion, but I like parks that people can actually use, not just look at like a museum piece.
I hope it CHANGES the way the Greenway did. And it probably will. I'm rooting for this space. But right now, that Emperor has no clothes on. I'm not wringing hands, I'm just pointing out the obvious, that right now, it's a largely humanoid-free museum piece. I look forward to the IMPROVEMENTS that will make it a living space.
While it has only been open for a few days, I'll note that this "park" will likely suffer from the same design choices that the Fan Pier "park" does. Like at Fan Pier, there was an intentional design choice to prevent people from having any sort of fun on the grass by means of creating physical barriers between grassy segments. This prevents/discourages anyone from getting together with some friends to kick around a soccer ball*, throw a frisbee, football, etc. The space just isn't appealing for people to inhabit beyond walking *through* or just sitting on a bench on the hardscape. The design language of this "park" makes it clear that the grass is for looking at, not inhabiting.
For a district that is branding itself as young & innovative, there's a shocking lack of space where young people (who like outdoor recreational activities like soccer) can go outside their $3000/m apartments and have some fun.
*Note, I'm not talking about setting up a full pickup game with nets or a place to practice free kicks. You need a large open space/field for that. I'm just talking about a place where you can hang out with friends and kick a ball around.
Datadyne -- by becoming the home to a very likely quite actively frequented memorial -- this park moved away from the kind of recreation about which you are talking
A few posts back -- I suggested the Falen Hero's as an analog to the Soldiers & Sailors monument on the hill in the Common -- but its been so many years since the Civil War that the S&S is just generic monument now -- so you can play frisbee without disturbing someone seeking some sort of solace
Howerver, Seaport Square Park and the Fallen Heros Memorial are so intimately connected and the timing of the events are so recent in the past that this is a different kind of place
Try the Lawn on D for frisbee
While it has only been open for a few days, I'll note that this "park" will likely suffer from the same design choices that the Fan Pier "park" does. Like at Fan Pier, there was an intentional design choice to prevent people from having any sort of fun on the grass by means of creating physical barriers between grassy segments. This prevents/discourages anyone from getting together with some friends to kick around a soccer ball*, throw a frisbee, football, etc. The space just isn't appealing for people to inhabit beyond walking *through* or just sitting on a bench on the hardscape. The design language of this "park" makes it clear that the grass is for looking at, not inhabiting.
For a district that is branding itself as young & innovative, there's a shocking lack of space where young people (who like outdoor recreational activities like soccer) can go outside their $3000/m apartments and have some fun.
*Note, I'm not talking about setting up a full pickup game with nets or a place to practice free kicks. You need a large open space/field for that. I'm just talking about a place where you can hang out with friends and kick a ball around.