Trust for Public Land Partners with Boston Housing Authority, COGDesign to Rebuild Community Playground at Archdale Village

Trust for Public Land (TPL) announced today their partnership with the Boston Housing Authority, COGDesign, and Archdale Village residents to design a versatile, high quality, outdoor space that is reflective of community needs.

Home to 288 units and Archdale Community Center, Archdale Village was constructed in 1953 in Roslindale. In the 1990s, a longstanding playground space beloved by residents to relax, play, and get fresh air, burned to the ground in an act of arson. For 23 years, the playground area has remained empty, and the surrounding space has been sectioned off, limiting its use for residents.

“The Archdale community needs a space that lets children learn and play in a safe, outdoor environment, while also serving as a gathering space for the entire community,” said Guadalupe Garcia, Senior Program Manager for Trust for Public Land. “Trust for Public Land has been working with the Boston Housing Authority and the Archdale resident community to ensure all residents have access to a welcoming space after decades without, and we hope to see further collaboration between BHA to inspire further park improvement efforts.”

The current state of the playground space consists of several fenced off tree pits with large crumbling concrete paths snaking between them. Aside from a few ill-equipped plastic play structures, there is limited access to playgrounds in the area for Archdale youth.

One of many BHA properties that provide housing for low-income residents, the Archdale site was selected as a pilot project through the partnership. Once this project is complete and successful, there is potential for further collaboration with BHA on other properties to bring quality green spaces where they are needed most.

“This is a wonderful moment for Archdale residents and the Roslindale neighborhood, who for decades have been deprived of the kind of green community space that they deserve,” BHA Administrator Kate Bennett said. “This effort will give children a safe space to play, and it will bring the entire Archdale community together.”

John Hancock has provided a generous grant to help TPL pursue this goal of bringing a welcoming outdoor space to Archdale.  TPL will address community health, equity, and climate resilience by advancing five park projects as part of their Boston Parks for People initiative. These project sites will serve 30,000 local residents living within a 10-minute walk. About 90% of the residents identify as people of color and 36% reside in low-income households, making these sites all the more important.

“John Hancock is proud to support Trust for Public Land in the pursuit to build a more climate-resilient and equitable city,” says Annie Duong-Turner, Community Investment Lead at John Hancock. “We know that access to parks can help community members live a better life in a better world. Creating a city where quality parks bolster the health and well-being of all neighborhoods, and where all residents can readily enjoy the physical, mental, and social benefits of nature aligns with our mission of empowering sustained health and well-being and accelerating a sustainable future. We are excited to help establish stronger, healthier communities together.”

About Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 3 million acres of public land, created more than 5,000 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $84 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected more than 9 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.