BOSTON – On Tuesday, July 24, 2018 – Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the winners of the City’s third Public Space Invitational, a civic design competition that seeks ideas that reimagine and enhance Boston’s public spaces.
The announcement was made as part of an event at the Nightingale Community Garden, one of the locations selected.
This year, the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics and The Trustees called for innovative design installations at three community gardens: Nightingale Community Garden in Dorchester, Chilcott & Granada Community Garden in Jamaica Plain, and the Fenway Victory Gardens.
The three winning projects will bolster the connection between neighborhoods and community gardens and will support community conversations and storytelling, community dinners, and theatrical performances.
“Over the years the Public Space Invitational has inspired amazing projects that highlight the creativity of our residents and makes our public spaces shine bright,” said Mayor Walsh. “I am excited to congratulate the winners of this year’s contest and be able to highlight the importance of our community gardens as these projects take shape.”
This year’s design competition is part of a three-year partnership, called Community Grown, between The Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, the City of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development, The Trustees, and TD Bank to expand the reach and highlight the role of community gardens in Boston’s neighborhoods.
In addition to community-driven design projects, the program will feature a series of community-building events and skill-building workshops planned for up to 40 gardens in six of Boston’s neighborhoods.
“We are excited to partner with TD Bank and the Mayor’s office to create these unique community-focused experiences in Boston community gardens,” said Vidya Tikku, General Manager for The Trustees’ Greater Boston region.
“We have a long history of working with public and private partners here in the City of Boston and around the state to advocate for green spaces and expand urban gardening, education, and community-building. This partnership will enable us to offer neighborhood residents new and creative ways to gather, learn, and enjoy our community gardens.”
The three selected project proposals are:
Trailer Made
Location: Chilcott & Granada Community Garden and Fenway Victory Gardens. Proposed by: Andrea Fossa and Robert Barella
With a goal to spark creativity and community growth, Trailer Made is a solar-powered, towable, modular community gathering space that relies on locally sourced and recycled materials. The structure, once unpacked, will feature an events space with tables and chairs, interactive ‘planter’ sculptures, educational panels with chalkboards, electricity, and lighting for events, and a phone charging station. Created by landscape architects Andrea Fossa and Robert Barella, Trailer Made will travel between the Fenway Victory Gardens and Chilcott & Granada Community Garden in Jamaica Plain.
