APPLICATION FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS

Fenway Park Demonstration Project

Fenway Neighborhood

Applications Due: May 16, 2017 by 5pm

1

COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUND APPLICATION

In September of 2013 the Boston Redevelopment Authority (“BRA”) Board, now the Boston Planning & Development Agency (“BPDA”), approved the Fenway Park Demonstration Project. This action resulted in the granting of easement rights on Yawkey Way to the Boston Red Sox (“Red Sox”) for game days as well as air rights over Lansdowne Street to accommodate the Green Monster Seats. As part of the Fenway Park Demonstration Project, the Red Sox agreed to contribute $1,000,000 over 10 years to be used towards beautification efforts in the Fenway Neighborhood.

Up to $100,000 will be available in this round of funding.

Applicants are required to submit to the BPDA a plan that describes how the applicant will utilize the community benefit funds to address the objectives listed below in a manner that will produce the greatest measurable impact on the community. All awards will be subject to BPDA Board authorization and chosen applicants will be required to enter into a grant agreement with the BPDA.

Applicants are required to submit a detailed budget and comprehensive plan describing their objectives and goals if they are to receive funding.

The BPDA sets forth basic objectives against which the plan and the applicant’s performance under the plan will be evaluated by the BPDA. The applicant must state how it will pursue these objectives.

Objectives:

x Applicant’s project must benefit the Fenway Neighborhood.

x Applicant’s services must be a public beautification project, either temporary or permanent, that is fully accessible to the public.

2

PROPOSAL CHECKLIST

Applications Are Due: 5/16/2017 by 5pm

As a final step before submitting your application, use this checklist to ensure that your application is complete.

All organizations applying for community benefit funds must complete and submit ONE ELECTRONIC COPY of the following BPDA community benefit fund documents.

� Completed Application � Program Budget � Nonprofit Board of Directors Roster � Federal Tax Exemption Determination Letter � Organization Certificate of Good Standing

(Provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office)

Or such other documentation that the BPDA may request, if necessary.

Board members must disclose if they, or any immediate family members, are employees of the BPDA and may not participate in the review and/or approval of a grant award.

Proposals must be emailed to the below email address. Incomplete, hand-delivered, or mailed applications will not be accepted.

Completed applications and required attachments must be received no later than 5/16/2017

by 5pm. No extensions will be granted.

SUBMIT YOUR ELECTRONIC APPLICATION TO:

Brian Norton

Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development (OWD)

Email: brian.norton@boston.gov

617-918-5283

3

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

As designated by the BPDA, an applicant for community benefit funding must be a nonprofit corporation operating in Massachusetts and/or an organization that has identified a local nonprofit to act as its fiscal agent.

If an applicant applies for funds using a local nonprofit corporation as its fiscal agent, an agreement must be signed by the authorized signatories for each organization indicating the relationship between the parties with respect to the application for community benefit funds. This agreement must be submitted by the application deadline.

In addition, all funded activities must be eligible and meet the objectives set forth by the BPDA:

x Applicant’s project must benefit the Fenway neighborhood.

x Applicant’s services must be a public beautification project, either temporary or permanent, that is fully accessible to the public.

Follow the prescribed format for application preparation closely. Present information in the order indicated. Submit all requested information or indicate not applicable (“N/A”) where appropriate.

Do not submit materials other than those specifically requested.

If an applicant makes a false statement or misrepresentation in this application to obtain community benefit funding and funds are awarded, the funds and grant agreement will be in default. The BPDA may declare all or any part of the funds repayable to the BPDA and the contract voided. The applicant may also be barred from applying for future community benefit funding.

Please note that some proposals may require City of Boston or other public agency approvals (Public Improvements Commission, Boston Parks Department, etc.). If an applicant is awarded funding for a proposal requiring public agency approvals, disbursement of funding will be contingent upon such approvals. It is incumbent on the applicant to find out if its proposal requires public agency approvals.

Review committee recommendations for funding will be approved by the BPDA Board. A grant agreement will be executed prior to any disbursement of funds. Recommendations will be based on a variety of factors including specificity and clarity of plan, cost, conformity with the stated objectives, and projected outcomes if funding is awarded.

Successful applicants must provide a written summary of accomplishments, and expenditures, within 90 days after grant completion.

BrianNortonMayor’sOfficeofWorkforceDevelopment(OWD)BostonPlanning&DevelopmentAgency1CityHallSquare,Boston,MA02201brian.norton@boston.govRE:FenwayParkDemonstrationProjectDearMr.Norton:OnbehalfoftheCharlesgateAlliance(CA)andtheEmeraldNecklaceConservancy(ENC),Irespectfullysubmittheenclosedproposalfor$30,000totheFenwayParkDemonstrationProject.Ifawarded,thesefundswillsupportacommunity-ledprojectdedicatedtoimprovingpublicspacesinCharlesgateParkandnearby.ThisimprovementprojectstronglyalignswiththeDemonstrationProject’sgoalsthroughacommitmenttobeautifyingareasoftheFenwayneighborhoodthatarecurrentlyunsightlyandunderutilized.Thisproposaldetailsthefour-phaseplantoimprovetheCharlesgateParkarea,theprojectprogresstodateandthekeynextsteps.Anyawardedfundswillcontributetothesenextsteps,whichincludeimmediatebeautificationofseveralareasofthePark,alongwithaplanninganddesignprocessjointlyledbytheCAandtheENC.Ultimately,theseimprovementswilldrasticallyimproveanactiveandgrowingareaofFenwayandprovidealong-overdueupgradetotheneighborhood’sEasterngateway.Thereisstrongsupportforthisprojectintheareaandwehaveengagedvariousstakeholders,includingresidents,neighborsandvisitorstogatherideasandinspiration.TheENCwillserveastheCA’sfiscalintermediaryalongwithprovidingadministrativesupportandprojectleadership.Othersupportcomesfromlocalofficials,includingstateandmunicipalelectedrepresentativeswhohaveprovidedguidanceandencouragementthroughouttheprojecttodate.WehopethattheBostonPlanningandDevelopmentAgencywillcontributetothismomentumwithaninvestmentinourproject.Pleaseletmeknowifyouhavequestionsorwouldlikeadditionalinformation.WeareeagertocollaboratewiththeBPDAonthesharedgoalofimprovingtheFenwayneighborhood.Thankyouforyourconsideration.Sincerely,H.ParkerJamesExecutiveDirector,CharlesgateAlliance

1of9

ProgramDesign1. Describethespecificactivityorprojecttobeperformedwiththefundsandthegoals

oftheprogram(1000wordsmaximum).

TheCharlesgateAlliance(CA)isdedicatedtoimprovingtheCharlesgatePark(thePark),aneglectedgreenspacebeneathandaroundtheBowkerOverpass.Althoughneglected,theParkhastremendouspotentialtoprovideabeautifulpublicgatewaytotheEasternedgeoftheFenwayneighborhood.Infact,thiswasFrederickLawOlmsted’soriginalplanforthePark,tofunctionasthe"BeaconEntrance"towhatisnowknownasthe“EmeraldNecklace”inthelate1800s.AlongwithexistingplanstolinktheParkwiththeEsplanadeviatheCharlesgateGreenway,theCAProjectwillcontributetolargereffortstocelebrateOlmsted’svisionandrestorethefulllengthoftheEmeraldNecklaceseriesofparks,connectingseveralBostonneighborhoodswithabeautifulgreenway.1Torestorethisgrandvision,theCAhaslaunchedafour-phaseImprovementProject(theProject)thatwillrestoretheParkandreturntheunsightly,hazardousareatoabeautiful,functional,publicly-accessibleseriesofsmall“parklets,”eachwithuniqueappealtobroadgroupsofresidentsandvisitors.2Oneoftheinspirationsforthiseffortistherecentlycompleted"InkUnderground"projectnearBoston'sSouthEndneighborhood,whichhasrevitalizedandbeautifiedaformallyunusedareabeneaththeCentralArteryExpressway(I-93).3FundingfromtheBostonPlanningandDevelopmentAgency(BPDA)willsupporttheplanningandinitialdevelopmentphasesofCA'sownbeautificationandactivationproject(seeFig.1)andhelptheCAtestthefeasibilityofthecommunityideas.Inshort,aBPDAinvestmentwillaccelerateprogresstowardthegoalofafullyrestoredCharlesgatePark.Phase1(completed)ThefirstPhaseofthecommunity-ledProjectsuccessfullyconcludedonMay10,2017whenCAleadersjoinedrepresentativesoftheSolomonFoundationandtheEmeraldNecklaceConservancy(ENC)tomeetwithPatriceKishoftheMassachusettsDepartmentofConservationandRecreation(DCR)andlayoutaframeworkformovingforwardwithparkdevelopment.The

1TheCharlesgateGreenwayprojectisaDCRprojectfundedbyMassDOT.TheGreenwayprojectiscurrentlypendingapprovalofaChapter91licenseandisexpectedtobeginWinter2017orSpring2018withanexpectedtimelineof6to9months.MoreontheprojectisavailableviatheSolomonFoundation(http://www.solomonfoundation.org/pages/projects/chg.html)andMassDOT(http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dcr/news/public-meetings/materials/projects/2016-10-18-charlesgate-presentation.pdf).2IdeasfortheseparkletsofferedduringcommunitycharrettesanddiscussedduringarecentCA-ledcommunitymeetingincludeareservedbird-watchingarea,adogpark,a"wheel's-friendly"arealiketheLynchFamilySkateparkundertheZakimBridge,multi-useconcretesportcourts,multi-useartificialturfmini-playfieldsforsoccerorbaseball,aZengarden,asculpturegarden,areservedareaforeventparkingandfarmer'smarkets,aperformingartsspaceforlocalstudentsandartiststopresentmusicalandtheatricalworks,permanentoutdoormusicalinstrumentssuchasapiano,andmanyothercreativerecreational,environmentalandcommercialapplications.3FormoreontheInkUndergroundproject,pleasevisitthehomepage(https://www.ink-underground.com/).

2of9

DCRistheowneroftheCharlesgateParkpropertyandtheirreview,approvalandoversightwillbevitaltotheProject.TheCAplanstoworkcloselywithMs.KishandherteamtoensurealignmentthrougheverystageoftheProject.Phase2ThesecondphaseoftheimprovementProjectwillinvolveplanning,permittingandfinalapprovals.TheCAhasbegunseekingfundingfromneighbors,privatedonorsandothergrant-makingorganizationstofacilitatePhase2activitiesandhopesthattheBPDAwillalsocontribute.Specifically,fundingwillsupporthiringarchitectsanddesignerswhocanfinalizeappropriatetechnicalplansfortheparkletsandpreparetheplansforreviewbytherelevantstakeholderorganizationsthatwillprovidefinalapprovalfortheimprovementsandthosethatwillimplementthephysicalandprogrammaticimprovements.WiththisPhase2funding,theCAaimstocreatesafe,pedestrianfriendlypublicparkletswithmixedrecreational,environmentalandcommercialapplicationsthatpermanentlybeautifythePark,improveMuddyRiverwaterqualityandenhancepublicaccesstoenvironmentalassetsintheFenwayneighborhood.Ultimately,alongwithongoingmaintenanceanddevelopmentfromastrongandenduringCA,theseeffortswillrestorethePark,linkimportantcommercialandrecreationalBostonneighborhoodsandcompleteOlmsted’sEmeraldNecklace.Figure1:CharlesgateParkImprovementProjectPhasesandActivities

2. Describetheoutcomesexpectedasaresultoftheprogram.SeveralProjectoutcomesareexpectedthatstronglyalignwithBPDAgoals:

• BeautificationofthePark’snaturalenvironment

Phase1:Alignment

•Partnershipdevelopmentandneighboroutreach•Stakeholderplanreviewandinitialapproval

Phase2:Planning

• Initialfundraisingandbeautification•Parkletplanningandfinalstakeholderapproval

Phase3:Execution

•Ongoingfundraisingandbeautification•Parkletconstruction

Phase4:Maintenance

•Ongoingcommunitydevelopment•Parkletmaintenanceanddevelopment

3of9

o TheParkisdark,unfriendlyandoftenhazardous.Byimplementingpublicparkletswithbetterlighting,bicycle-andwheelchair-friendlypathways,code-compliantbenchesandrailings,anddesignatedareasforrelaxationandrecreation,theProjectwillremovedangersandenhancepublicsafety.

o TheriverintheParkiscloggedwithdebrisandtrash.ToaddressthisissuetheCA’sparkletdesignswillpartnerwiththeCharlesRiverWatershedAssociationtoincorporatewaterremediationmeasuresthatwillreducetrashandincreasewildlifeaccess.Thesemeasureswilltherebyimprovewaterqualityandbeautifythewaterway.

• BeautificationofthePark’sbuiltenvironmento TheBowkerOverpassisaneyesore.Toaddressthisissue,severalrespondentsto

acommunitysurveyconductedbytheCAsuggestedwaysofimprovingtheappearanceofthebridgesupports,guardrailsandstrutsandintegratingthestructuresintotheparkletdesigns.Forexample,suggestionsincludedpublicartinstallationssuchasmurals,sculptures,adedicated"streetart"wallforlocalartistsandareasavailableforrotatinginstallationsfromlocalsponsors.TheseworksofartwoulddisguisetheunsightlyBowkerOverpassandsignificantlybeautifytheFenwayneighborhood.

Alltold,theseoutcomeswillpermanentlybeautifyalong-neglectedpartoftheFenwayneighborhoodandprovidefully-accessibleservicestoresidents,neighborsandmembersofthepublicwhovisitthearea,whethertheyareontheirwaytoworkorschool,headedtoaRedSoxgameortoashoponNewburyStreet,orsimplylookingforabeautifulplacetowalktheirpetorenjoyamomentnexttotheMuddyRiver.

3. Listanystakeholdersorpartnersinvolvedintheproject.TheCAcurrentlyrepresentsnearly90members.ThisgroupincludesresidentsofFenway,neighborsintheBackBay,employeesandownersofFenwaybusinesses,studentsandfacultyfromneighborhoodschools,representativesofalliedenvironmentalprotectionandpreservationgroups,andotherinterestedparties.Partnerorganizationsinclude:

• EmeraldNecklaceConservancy(ENC)• SolomonFoundation• FenwayCivicAssociation(FCA)• CharlesRiverWatershedAssociation(CRWA)• NeighborhoodAssociationoftheBackBay(NABB)• FriendsofthePublicGarden• EsplanadeAssociation• KenmoreAssociation• KenmoreResidentsAssociation• BayStateRoadNeighborhoodAssociation• BostonUniversityStudentGroups• MITFraternitiesandSororities(acollaborationledbyPhiSigmaKappa)

4of9

OtherorganizationshavealsoexpressedinterestintheCAImprovementProject,includingArtLifting(aBoston-basedsocialenterpriseandbenefitcorporationthatworkswithhomelessanddisabledpopulationstocelebrateandselltheirartwork)andArtistsforHumanity(aBostonnon-profitthattrainsandemploysurbanteenartistsandhaspreviouslyreceivedBPDAfunding)andtheCAlooksforwardtoengagingthesepotentialalliesinPhases2,3and4.4TheCAalsoplanstoleverageauniqueperiodofinterestandengagementfromstateandlocalagencieswithjurisdictionovervariousareasofthePark(seeFig.2).Althoughstaffturnoverandfundingshortagesattheseagencieshavepreviouslyhinderedrestorationefforts,theCA’sDCRpartnershipmarksasignificantpositivestepinpublicagencycollaboration.5AlongwiththeDCR,MassDOTrepresentativeshavealsoexpressedwillingnesstoparticipateintheProject.SinceMassDOToverseesmuchofthePark’sbuiltinfrastructure,coordinationwiththeagencywillbecriticaltoensureimprovementsaresafe,accessibleandcompliantwithstateandlocalregulations.Withthesefreshcommitmentstoacollaborativeimprovementeffortfromthetwomostsignificantpublicagencystakeholders,theCAisoptimisticaboutnear-termProjectsuccess.Representativesfromotherstateagencies,suchasJenniferNorwood,theDirectoroftheOfficeofPublicPrivatePartnershipsattheMassachusettsExecutiveOfficeofEnergyandEnvironmentalAffairs,andAbiVladeck,theProgramDirectorforRealEstateAssetsattheOfficeofGovernorCharlieBaker,haveexpressedsimilarinterestinparticipatingintheprojectandmaysupporttheProjectasconvenersandprojectleaders,contingentuponDCR’sparticipation.Lastly,localelectedofficials,includingSenatorWillBrownsberger,RepresentativesJayLivingstonandByronRushingandCityCouncilorJoshZakimhavebeeninvolvedintheProjectpriortoPhase1andhaveconfirmedtheirongoingcommitmenttotheProject.Theirsupport,alongwithaDCR-ledconsortiumofstateandlocalagencies,iscriticaltotheProjectsuccessandtheCAisoptimisticthatnowisthetimetomobilizethesestakeholders.Figure2:StateandLocalAgenciesCriticaltotheProject

PublicAgency Oversight

BostonParksDept. Comm.Ave.Mall

MassDOT BowkerOverpass

DCR CharlesgatePark

MBTA TTunnel

4Formoreontheseterrificlocalorganizations,pleasevisittheirwebsites(https://www.artlifting.com/andhttp://afhboston.org/).5Sen.BrownsbergerhastrackedthisissuecloselyandhaspostedcorrespondencewiththeMassDOTabouttheBowkerOverpassonhiswebsite(https://willbrownsberger.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/11915-letter-dcr-dot.pdf).

5of9

Experience1. Howlonghasyourorganizationbeenperformingthespecificactivityforwhichyou

areapplying?Describeyourorganization’sexperienceinprovidingtheserviceforwhichfundingisrequested(1000wordsmaximum).

AlthoughtheCAisanewCommunityOrganization,theleadershavelivedintheFenwayneighborhoodfordecades.Thisexperienceallowsuniqueinsighttotheneedsoftheareaandtotherelevantstakeholders.Alongwiththesecommunityleaders,localelectedofficialshavealsodemonstratedlong-standingandongoingcommitmenttobeautifyingthePark.Thissetofknowledgeandrelationships,coupledwiththeeffortofnewerneighborhoodresidentsandthesupportofstateandlocalrepresentatives,willensuresuccessfortheCAParkimprovementproject.

2. Ifyourorganizationplanstoconducttheprojectin-house,howmanystaffwillworkontheproject?Describeyouragency’sspecificstaffexperienceinconductingthistypeofwork(1000wordsmaximum).

TheCAwillleveragelocalvolunteersandinputfromcommunitymembersbutdoesnothavefull-timestaffanddoesnotplantoconducttheprojectin-house.However,theEmeraldNecklaceConservancy(ENC),thefiscalsponsorofthisprojectandaprojectpartner,hasninefull-timestaffmembersandthePresident,KarenMauney-Brodek,andprojectmanager,MaryHickie,RegisteredArchitect,willsupportandworkonthisproject.Whiletheactualdesignrenderinganddocumentswillbedevelopedbyconsultants,bothMs.Mauney-BrodekandMs.Hickiehaveextensiveexperienceincommunityprocesses,communitymeetingsandleadingneighborhoodbasedeffortswithextensivepublicstakeholderparticipationandbuy-in.Additionally,theENCconvenesatleastfourmeetingsayearwithDCRandBostonCityParkstoreviewtheirnumerouscollaborativeprojectsthroughouttheparksystem.Moreover,monthlytheENCholdsmeetingswithParkOverseers,whichisaboardcomprisedofovertwentycommunityandparkorganizationsthroughouttheEmeraldNecklace'scommunity.TheENCBoardofOverseersincludesfourFenwaybasedgroups,allowingforadditionalreview,feedbackanddeepersupportforidentifiedimprovements.

3. Ifyourorganizationplanstohireacontractortoperformsomeorallofthework,pleasenamethecontractoranddescribetheirspecificexperiencethatqualifiesthemfortheproject.

TheCAplanstohirecontractorsforPhases2and3oftheProjectandhasnotyetselectedthesepartners.However,oncethesecontractorsarefinalizedtheCAwillsharetheirexperienceandqualificationswiththeBPDA.TheCAlooksforwardtoanongoingcollaborationwiththeBPDAandwillmakeeveryefforttocultivateapositiveworkingrelationshipgiventhestrongalignmentbetweentheCA’sgoalsandthoseoftheFenwayParkDemonstrationProject.

6of9

Accomplishments1. Hasyourorganizationworkedonsimilarprojectsbefore?Ifso,describe.

Althoughaneworganization,CAmembershavehadpreviousandrecentsuccessesinbeautifyingtheParkandadjacentneighborhoods.Specifically,in1993CACo-Founder,ParkerJames,workedwithhisCityCouncilorandatonepointevensatonthesidewalkinfrontofhisCharlesgatePark-adjacentapartmenttoexpressinterestinaddingfourstreettreestoMarlboroughStreet.Heralliedneighborhoodsupportandwasultimatelysuccessfulingettingthestreettreesplanted.Twenty-fouryearslaterhisongoinginterestinbeautificationinspirescurrentCAmemberstoadoptasimilarcommitmenttoneighborhoodimprovementandbeautification.Morerecently,theCAorganizedasuccessfulParkcleanupeffortonApril29,2017inhonorofEarthDay.IncollaborationwiththeEmeraldNecklaceConservancy,theCAgatheredover65volunteerstopickuptrashanddebris(includingsomehazardouswastesuchasusedsyringes),clearweedsandfallenbranchesandcollectthewastefordisposalbyDCR.Theeventwasoversubscribedandtheattendees,whichincludedStateSenatorWillBrownsberger,RepresentativeJayLivingstone,membersofGreaterBostonKiwanis,MITROTC,GrantThorntonandtheCA,spentoverthreehoursbeautifyingandcleaningthePark(Fig.3).ThissuccessfulcommunitymobilizationdemonstratestheCA’sabilitytoengageandmobilizecommunitymembersandthestronginterestinbeautificationoftheParkfromFenwayresidentsandneighbors.6Fig.3:PhotofromtheApril27,2017ParkCleanup

6TheBostonSunreportedonthecleanupprojectandnotedthesupportofparticipantsandelectedofficials(http://thebostonsun.com/2017/05/05/charlesgate-alliance-seeks-to-reclaim-lost-neighborhood/).

7of9

PicturedLtoR:CAleaderRandallAlbrightandCAco-founderParkerJameswithRep.JayLivingstoneandSen.WillBrownsberger

Budgetandresourcesleveraged1. Includeaproposedbudgetforyourprogram(Usingyourownbudgetform).

TheCA’sproposedbudgetfortheProjectisbelow(Fig.4).Ifawarded,thesefundswillbedirectedtotheCAviatheEmeraldNecklaceConservancy(ENC).TheENChasagreedtoserveasafiscalagentfortheCAandthesignedagreementbetweenthepartiesindicatingtherelationshipwithrespecttotheapplicationforcommunitybenefitfundsisforthcoming.Figure4:ProposedProjectBudgetandLineItemDescriptions

BudgetItem Amount BriefDescriptionDesigncontractorservices

Sitesurvey $5,000 ReviewtheParkareaandrelevantpublicrecordsandpermits,reviewconsolidatedcommunityfeedbackfromCAsurvey,discussfeasibleparkletdesignswithkeystakeholdersanddevelopinspirationboardsforreview

Draftsketches $10,000 RefineinspirationboardsanddevelopinitialsketchesofparkletoptionsandimprovementstothenaturalandbuiltParkinfrastructure

PurchaseandinstallnewParkassetsandrepair

existingitems.

$10,000 Basedontheinitialarchitecturaldrafts,theCAwillpurchaseandinstallsomeitems,suchasnewlightsandplantings,whilealsorepairingexistingitemssuchasguardrailsandparkbenches,thatwillimmediatelycontributetobeautificationoftheParkenvironment

Finalrenderings $5,000 DevelopfinalrenderingsandmockupstoguidePhase3executionandparticipateinconstructioncontractorselectionprocess

Total $30,000

2. PleasestatetherequestedamountandincludeanarrativetoexplainhowthesefundswillbeusedtosuccessfullyimplementtheproposedProgramDesign(1000wordsmaximum).

TherequestedamountoffundingfortheCAProjectis$30,000.ThisamountwillenablesuccessfulimplementationoftheproposedProgramDesignbyadequatelysupportingallPhase2activitiesoftheProject.SincetheseactivitiesfocusonProjectplanningandstakeholderfinalapprovaltheywillrequireinputfromanarchitecturaldesignfirm.Althoughthedesignfirmhasnotyetbeenselected,basedonpreliminaryconversationswithstakeholdersandpotential

8of9

partners,includingHalvorsonDesignandNationalDevelopment,theCAexpectsacontractedfirmtoconductaninitialsitesurveytoreviewthespaceandtheoptionsavailable.7OncetheseparkletdesignshavebeenapprovedbytheCA-ledstakeholderconsortium,theCAwillbeginexecutingonimprovementsinthePark,suchasreplacingandrepairingexistinglightingstructuresandParkbenchesthatwillimmediatelyincreasethebeautyoftheParkandprovidebetterpublicaccesstoParkresources.Thisreviewwillbefollowedbyatleastoneroundofideationandconceptdevelopmentfortheparklets.OncetheseparkletdesignshavebeenapprovedbytheCA-ledstakeholderconsortium,theywillbefinalizedandrenderedastechnicalspecificationsforfinalconstruction.Withaninitialinvestmentof$30,000theBPDAwouldcatalyzethisprocessandpropeltheCA-ledcoalitionofcommunitystakeholderstowardapermanentlyrestoredCharlesgatePark.

7Moredetailsonthesefirmsisavailableontheirwebsites(http://www.halvorsondesign.com/andhttp://www.natdev.com/).

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS · EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

Department of Conservation and Recreation 251 Causeway Street, Suite 600 Boston MA 02114-2119 617-626-1250 617-626-1351 Fax www.mass.gov/dcr

Charles D. Baker Governor

Karyn E. Polito Lt. Governor

Matthew A. Beaton, Secretary, Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs

Leo Roy, Commissioner Department of Conservation & Recreation

Boston Planning and Development Agency 1 City Hall Square 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 RE: Charlesgate Park - Fenway Park Demonstration Project (FPDA) Grant Application To Whom It May Concern: On behalf of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), I am pleased to write this letter of support for the Charlesgate Alliance’s application for a Fenway Park Demonstration Project (FPDA) grant administered by the Boston Planning and Development Agency. The ultimate goal of the project described in the application is to improve the conditions of Charlesgate Park through a community led planning and design process. Charlesgate Park, owned and managed by the DCR, not only is a component of the Emerald Necklace Park System but also serves as a critical link to the Esplanade and the Charles River Reservation. The park faces numerous maintenance and management challenges caused by the intrusion of the 1960s era Bowker Overpass. The project, as outlined in the application, has the potential to engage stakeholders to think creatively and develop a long term plan that will transform and activate a much underutilized piece of open space in the City of Boston. DCR welcomes the opportunity to support this exciting partnership with the Charlesgate Alliance and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. Please feel free to contact me if you need further information. Sincerely, Patrice Kish, Acting Chief Bureau of Planning Design and Resource Protection Parker James, CA Karen Mauney-Brodek, ENC