The Neighbors
The neighborhood is a dense residential area , full of old mill housing , triple deckers , and public housing for Worcester ’ s elderly residents . The availability of very affordable housing continues to draw a truly multicultural population , bringing an international vibrancy to the commercial corridor along Pleasant Street where Peace Park is located . Peace Park is the only green space within this neighborhood , providing a place where frequent , casual contact among neighbors may occur . This interaction has helped to strengthen neighborhood ties where residents now become familiar faces , get acquainted , and have the opportunity to develop an understanding of ( and often an appreciation for ) the different cultures and ethnicities of their neighbors .
The First Design Ideas
The design of Peace Park was a long and not-verystraight-line process , beginning with Women Together Now ( WTN ) seeking funding directly ; then , with the help of students from the Conway School , early design concepts were generated and used to formulate a development program , coordinate community outreach , and submit an application for an Urban Self Help Grant . Finally , Parks Commissioner Robert Antonelli Jr . took up the project and selected BSC Group to prepare and execute the design . He gathered a large stakeholder group to form a Steering Committee including representatives from WTN , Greater Worcester Land Trust , Worcester Common Ground CDC , and the Parks Department . Senior Landscape Architect Leslie D . Fanger and BSC Group ’ s landscape architects took on the leadership role for the team to work through the preparation of an existing conditions survey , design development , production of construction documents , and construction bidding .
The original design program envisioned a passive park where various events and activities could occur — such as performances , farmers ’ markets , festivals , openair art galleries , and community gatherings . The final design features spaces for private reflection , large gatherings , and active expressions of art , dance , and theater utilizing a great lawn enclosed by an oval walkway , sliced by a serpentine seating wall that orders the spaces .
The arrangement of park elements is designed to be open , allowing for eyes on all parts of the park . This design edict was applied for all the functional areas of the park , while providing sufficient definition to frame specific uses . The introduction into the park begins with a gateway gathering space at the street corner , from which park visitors can move into the picnic area to the north ,
Plan Graphic | BSC Group
Boston Society of Landscape Architects Fieldbook
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