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We are expanding our network of parks, plazas, and outdoor spaces. We would love to hear from you. Take our survey and share your thoughts!
Spaces For You is a collaborative and proactive initiative by the City of Boston to co-create, enhance, and celebrate public outdoor spaces that foster joy, belonging, and well-being for all residents. It seeks to bridge the gap between community needs and city resources, knitting together public and privately generated open spaces to create vibrant social places for all.
This initiative will create a comprehensive plan for publicly accessible spaces building on the Open Space and Recreation Plan 2023-2029 by the Parks and Recreation Department, along with growth projections and findings from the Boston Design Vision. Together, with the tools generated through this plan, the City will be able to analyze privately generated open spaces as a way to support growth and the creation of high-quality open spaces that are inclusive, equitable, resilient, and accessible.
The final outcome will establish a framework to guide the creation of publicly accessible open spaces for the next 15 years, and tools to address inherent challenges to creating privately generated open spaces.
Process
This is anticipated to be an 18-month planning process, more details coming soon.
Creating the vision involves:
Listening to understand community needs
Through broad outreach, focus groups, and conversations with stakeholders.
Learning from past planning efforts in Boston and looking to other cities for examples of success
Review of previous planning efforts related to open space planning in Boston, as well as an understanding of best practices, processes, and tools other cities have used to create equitable access to open space.
Creating the Vision for expanding Boston’s network of open spaces
Establish a shared vision, goals, and priorities for the expansion of Boston’s open spaces. Analysis of the existing open spaces will identify gaps and guide where priority investments should be made. A toolkit will be developed to inform the character, experience, quality, activities, and elements for investments in new open spaces.
Impact
This work will directly inform the approaches to the development of new open spaces, identify priority projects, short-term actions, partnerships, and potential considerations for funding, operations, and maintenance.
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Additional Resources and Related Planning Efforts
Upcoming Events
Spaces for You Open House
Saturday, November 15 | 12:00 AM - 3:00 PM | The Station | 1400 Boylston Street | Boston, MA 02215
Tuesday December 9 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | The Civic Pavilion | 5 Congress Street | Boston, MA 02203
Past Events
Viva La Vida Festival - Dia de Muertos Celebration
November 3, 2024 | 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Central Sq Park (Liberty Place) St, East Boston
Join us at Viva La Vida Festival - Dia de Muertos Celebration for a Greening While Growing Popup Event! Planning staff will share the Greening While Growing project and engage attendees in activities about their experiences in open spaces. The information gathered will help us better understand how we might fill in the city's open space network to expand access to privately owned spaces.
Monthly Free Bike Repair
November 6, 2024 | 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM | 1350 Blue Hill Avenue
Join us at the Monthly Free Bike Repair at BPL Mattapan for a Greening While Growing Popup Event! Planning staff will share the Greening While Growing project and engage attendees in activities about their experiences in open spaces. The information gathered will help us better understand how we might fill in the city's open space network to expand access to privately owned spaces.
Harboring Creativity East Boston
November 16, 2024 | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Join us at the Harboring Creativity for a Greening While Growing Popup Event! Planning staff will share the Greening While Growing project and engage attendees in activities about their experiences in open spaces. The information gathered will help us better understand how we might fill in the city's open space network to expand access to privately owned spaces.
Allston Brighton Open Streets
October 20, 2024 | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Join us at Allston Brighton Open Streets for a Greening While Growing Popup Event! Planning staff will share the Greening While Growing project and engage attendees in activities about their experiences in open spaces. The information gathered will help us better understand how we might fill in the city's open space network to expand access to privately owned spaces.