Norwell Street Park

When you look around Boston, opportunities for new green spaces may not be immediately clear. The city is packed with people, buildings, and construction everywhere. But in the Dorchester neighborhood, Trust for Public Land is working hard to bring a park project to life with the help of the West of Washington Coalition, Fairmount Greenway Task Force, City of Boston, and various other partners.

In 2021, we acquired four vacant lots totaling 12,800 square feet, which will be turned into Norwell Street Park. Plans include a robust playground, public art, and plenty of green space for locals and visitors alike to enjoy. Perhaps best of all, the park will be located next to the 9-mile Fairmount Greenway, a multiuse pedestrian and bicycle path that will run alongside the Fairmount Commuter Rail line. The park will also be by the new Talbot Avenue train station, furthering its accessibility.

As the park goes through the stages of development, we’ve helped put together a pop-up park for the community while tracking progress on several surrounding lots, which are slated to be transformed into new affordable housing units.

In a city as big and old as Boston, this type of modern commitment to open space can feel impossible. But together, we’re driving change that will ensure a better future for the deserving people who call this place home.