NABB Board - NABB: In Your Backyard - $4m Capital Improvements for Copley Square, but what and how? City of Boston is working with architectural firm to rethink Copley Square By Jon Chesto Globe Staff, Updated December 16, 2020

Copley Square had a major renovation in the 1980s, transforming it into more of a green space. BLAKE NISSEN FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE NABB January 2021 Board Meeting Case for Supporting Copley Square Park

Boston Public Library + + Copley Square Park

+ YWCA Window of opportunity for Copley Square Park

1. Boston Capital Plan Capital Improvements for $4 m Copley Square PARK (funded by Bonds) 2. $ available to spend, opportunity to request additional funds, which would be necessary for a complete redesign 3. 2 Supportive & Engaged City Councilors Bok and Flynn 4. Sympathetic Parks Commissioner, Commissioner Woods 5. Parks Department seeks input – everyone can comment in public meetings and write letters 6. NABB has two representatives (Jackie & Margaret) on the 20 person Steering Committee, five from City We can have influence with support from you 7. Sasaki hired for planning and design And a Window of opportunity for Dartmouth Street To look at Copley Square Park and the BPL McKim Building Dartmouth Street Entry together

1. Copley Square is an extremely important space, surrounded by 3 historic buildings on the National Building Register 2. Planning concurrent with overlapping steering groups and significant public outreach 3. Design and Planning Teams communicate potential for comprehensive plan 4. Both projects seek input – everyone can comment in public meetings and write letters 5. Sasaki hired by Parks planning and design Shepley Bulfinch with designLAB architects hired by the BPL 6. We have a golden opportunity, let’s make the best of it! Dartmouth Street separates the BPL from Copley Park Both project teams ask if street closure makes sense. NABB: In Your Backyard – Capital Improvements for Copley Square, but what and how?

The recent survey about Copley Square received 164 responses from NABB members between January 8 and 15, 2021. Below is a summary of the main findings:

Question 1 Regarding the possible closure of Dartmouth Street, the responses were clearly against closure. Slightly over 70% of respondents disagreed with this design proposal. Over half indicated strong disagreement with permanent closure.

Boston Public Library McKim Master Plan Look at improvement for Dartmouth Entry Poll from public meeting 12-15-2020 (recorded and posted on BPL site) 45 responses

file://localhost/.file/ id=6571367.43069746 Question 2 When asked how the allocated $4m should be spent, slightly over 80% of respondents felt the current park should be renovated or partially upgraded as opposed to a total redesign. More than half were in favor of a partial upgrading/ changes to the existing park design. 25 Respondents Question 5 When asked about which design aspects to include in the park, many of the top responses focused on improving the green spaces and other existing features of the Copley Square today:

88% : focus on trees 81% : seasonal plantings 77% : fountain 75% : focus on lawn 75% : improvements/changes to benches 58% : retain sculptures 49% : park open visually in all directions

Questions? Comments?

Before review of images from the park

John Singleton Copley in Copley Square On Farmers Market Day Site Plan Prepared for a Boston Book Fair Event Book Fare 92.9 WBOS Concert NEW LED Lighting replaced non-working original lamps Copley Fountain on a winter night Upper level fountain with view to farmer’s market and across the park Copley Fountain from Boylston Street Seasonal Tables and Chairs (stored over the winter) BosTix Booth corner of Boston and Dartmouth Streets Door to the World temporary installation Farmer’s Market 40th Anniversary 2020 Light Show Light Show Summer afternoon around the fountain Lawn replacement or restoration (2-4 months) follows damage from Light Shows, First Nights, Marathons, Tents covering the grass Significant Lawn requiring of the soil Significant Lawn replacement & improved drainage Fountain area protected by fencing to allow the grass to grow Fountain in the morning shadow of tall buildings to the south Skateboarders enjoying the challenge of the fountain

Hanging out on the lawn View across the upper fountain across the Park to the Fairmont Copley Plaza (built in 1812) Report Graffiti and trash to 311 Vehicles on paving to serve the farmers market Parks Department vehicles deployed from the Boston Common Parks Department needs sufficient funds to maintain our parks Park sought for photo shoots Tents kill the grass Vehicles damage the paving Lawn repair in process Sasaki, Dawson, DeMay Associates, Inc. Sasaki Fountain 1983 Illustration of winning design by Dean Abbott of Clarke & Rapuano, Inc. Copley Square Park Key Dates Development and Transportation Committee meeting January 26th 5:30 pm Zoom email [email protected] for link

Copley Square Park public meeting February 11th via Zoom (see enews) Written comments to Abigail Chatfield [email protected] with a copy to the [email protected].

140 Clarendon See enews for confirmation of a first week in February public meeting Margaret wrote the book on the subject of Copley Square. It is posted on the Friends of Copley Square website now To view these slides or download email Jackie foe a Google Docs link