New Edgerly Plaza
New Edgerly Plaza is a vibrant community gathering space in Fenway where neighbors and visitors of all ages can sit, relax, and connect.
Project Phase
Project Information
A COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE
New Edgerly Plaza is a vibrant outdoor street plaza in East Fenway that is open year-round for people of all ages to sit, eat, read, dance, play, and connect with neighbors. With plenty of multi-purpose furniture, sunlight and some passersby, you will find a spot that is right for you at this plaza. The plaza is a few blocks away from the Massachusetts Avenue MBTA stop and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, a few blocks away from the Emerald Necklace, and steps away from local restaurants, giving you plenty of reasons to visit or walk through the plaza.
We work with community groups and local institutions to host free events and activations on the plaza. We have added colorful furniture for people of all ages and abilities, playful elements like a ping pong table and a hopscotch, and more recently a Bluebikes station and a composting station. We are always happy to get new ideas from residents of things we can add to the plaza to make your visit more pleasant.
Community Advocacy
Since 2017, the community has advocated for street safety and plaza improvements, with the support from elected officials and neighborhood stakeholders. In 2021, community members requested neighborhood walks with Councilor Bok. In 2022, Councilor Bok's office counted 51 vehicles and 413 people walking here in a 45-minute period. Despite having over eight times as many pedestrians as vehicles, the street was primarily dedicated to cars. In 2023, residents and community groups continued to advocate for a permanent street plaza to improve safety for all road users and expand open space in the neighborhood.
In 2023 and 2024, we piloted several successful one-day closures of the block and conducted additional traffic analysis that confirmed many more pedestrians were using the street than vehicles. In November 2024, we installed the pilot plaza and launched it with a community party with music, dancing and activities for kids.
This space continues to be maintained via community partnerships, maintenance partners and volunteers interested in caring for the space and serving the community.
Events
Since launching in 2024, we have hosted dozens of community gatherings and activities throughout the different seasons, including Summer music and dance activations, art and vintage markets, City information sessions, bike repair workshops, compost bin giveaways, welcoming new students and residents, and hot cocoa in the Winter.
Photo credits: ReprezentU LLC
We partner with community groups and neighborhood institutions to activate and host events at the plaza. We are grateful for our partnerships with local students, long-term residents, abutting businesses, and volunteers and donors who continue to make these activations possible. If you are interested in partnering, please reach out to us!
Photo credits: The Fenway Alliance
Upcoming Events:
Please visit this link to stay up to date with upcoming events. If you are interested in hosting an event on the plaza, please contact our plaza programming partner, The Fenway Alliance.
Who's Involved
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