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Post-Storm Swarm

People and children standing around playing games and eating snacks. Giant checkers on the ground next to the new play shed.

February–March 2023
Boston, MA

During winter 2023, CultureHouse collaborated with the Boston Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM) to bring activities and vibrancy to parks in the cold winter months with two initiatives. 

With the Post-Storm Swarm (PSS) activation, we planned to delight Bostonians by popping up at sledding hills around the city with hot drinks and activities after a snowstorm. Unfortunately, the weather did not provide us with the snow we had dreamed of. However, we were able to adapt and use our non-snow-dependant activities to bring energy to Boston parks on cold days.

Alongside the PSS events, CultureHouse helped design the contents and branding of new winter play lending libraries.

Project components

Post-Storm Swarm kit

We planned for the PSS kit to be useful for several kinds of winter weather. The kit included an inflatable throwing target, giant checkers, bubbles, sleds, seating, snow molds, shovels, and hand warmers.

Play Shed

The Play Shed, a seasonal lending library, provided equipment and games that might otherwise be inaccessible to local communities. It was stocked full of fun—with gloves, hats, frisbees, snowshoes, sleds, seating, and hand warmers donated by REI and jump ropes, cornhole, goodminton, and slamball from the Block Party Kits we created in 2022.

The outside of a small shed reads "Play Shed: Seasonal Lending Library" lists partners. Winter icons decorate the outside of the shed and a giant checkerboard is in the background.
Images of a well organized shed stocked with games and seating. Gloves and hats line the walls while sleds, hula hoops, and snow shoes hang on the walls. Foldable seating lines the ground.

Events

Ringer Park, Allston

On March 3rd, we popped up at Ringer Park in Allston for our first Post-Storm Swarm. Joined by members of MONUM, Massachusetts state representative Kevin Honan, community members, and the Baja Taco Truck, we spent time talking about making winter more enjoyable, playing cornhole, drinking hot cocoa, and eating churros!

Members of MONUM, CultureHouse, community members, and State Representative stand in front of Baja Taco Truck holding hot cocoa and churros.
A large black bin sits on the ground marked with the City of Boston logo and a label that reads "Post-Storm Swarm"
A woman gleefully throws a cornhole bag while a woman and a few teenagers look on
A group of people stand in front of a food truck mingling and playing cornhole

Town Field, Dorchester

The Play Shed Lending Library was installed at Town Field in Fields Corner, Dorchester. During the opening ceremony on March 9th, we were joined by members of the MONUM team, students from the All Dorchester Sports & Leadership after-school program (ADSL), young adults from Fields Corner Crossroads Collaborative (FCCC), curious community members, and Coco Leaf, a local vendor. 

Students from ADSL had a great time playing with the PSS kits and Play Shed contents, even finding ways to use the snow equipment despite the lack of snow. Amy Mahler from MONUM gave a short speech about the project and then opened the shed for visitors to enjoy! Snacks were provided by FCCC and Coco Leaf, while a coach from ADSL provided great music.

A member of MONUM gives a short speech about the play shed opening to a crowd of children.
A girl pulls two other young children down a pile of sand on sleds.
Teens from Fields Corner Crossroads Collaboration provide snacks for the event.
Two boys sit and pet a dog on a leash.
People and children standing around playing games and eating snacks. Giant checkers on the ground next to the new play shed.

Partners