New Edgerly Plaza

October 2024–Present
New Edgerly Road, Boston, MA

We transformed New Edgerly Road, once a one-way street with parking spots on either side, from a place for cars to a place for people. After being shut down for Fenway Porchfest in 2021, community members expressed interest in permanently closing the road to cars. The Boston Transportation Department brought CultureHouse on to design and install a tactical pedestrian plaza on the street to achieve the transformation with a quicker timeline and lower price than a full reconstruction.

Since the plaza opened in October 2024, people can cross the street safely and enjoy space to sit outside and play. What was once a dangerous street for pedestrians is now a vibrant plaza where people can connect and relax.

A side view of a street with parked cars on either side and a parking structure in the distance.

A side view of a street full of people eating and talking on a street mural with a parking structure in the background.

Community engagement

Even though the conversation around this plaza was already underway before we started, we wanted to ensure that community members were included in our project and could give feedback. At the 2023 Fenway Porchfest event, we talked to around 30 people on the street and heard support for the project. At a community meeting in October, we spoke with an additional 87 constituents who shared feedback on the design.

People stand and watch a music performance on a closed street

People gather around information boards during a community meeting outside

Design

The design of the plaza includes a ground mural, seating, planters, and a ping pong table. Our goal with this approach was to make the roadway feel inviting, provide different ways of interacting with the space, and encourage passersby to stop—even if just for a moment. We used the color green to tie all the elements together.

A closed off street is being painted by a few volunteers in the background

A group of people dance to the Cupid Shuffle on a painted street.

A top down view of a painted street next to a large tree

Mural

We designed a mural inspired by the shape of a nearby building, with input from the community meeting and the Boston Disability Commission. In addition, we painted hopscotch to add a playful moment to the plaza.

People walk around a plaza filled with chairs and planters

Seating

We added picnic tables, cafe tables and chairs, Adirondack chairs, and low stools throughout the site. All of the furniture is movable to encourage people to adapt the space to their needs.

Planters

We added four large planters with winter-resilient plants to block off each end of the street and brighten the area.

Two people play ping pong on a plaza closed to cars

Ping-pong table

While seating, plants, and a mural were already a great start, we knew the site needed something extra! To add a little more, we collaborated with Black Cat Labs to build an outdoor, weather-resistant ping-pong table. This table provides a chance for people to play a game of ping pong—a sport that many people in cities don’t have access to and encourages social interaction. It also creates a memorable moment for the site!