Mayor Thomas M. Menino Park

The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) selected Weston & Sampson to design and oversee construction of a fully inclusive park and playground at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts.

In 2013, this was Boston’s newest waterfront park and a dramatic open space resource designed as a place of recovery and wellness and as a respite from the daily rigor of urban life. Much of the design inspiration drew from the park’s history as the Navy Yard’s first shipbuilding drydock. Originally, the drydock’s construction required that the Navy Yard expand beyond the existing pier and bulkhead line. Recovered granite blocks that once held back seawater now form the battened walls of the inclusive playground, provide seating, and form the foundation for elevated lawns and viewing decks oriented to capture the splendor of Boston’s stunning downtown skyline. Most importantly, the park offers innumerable opportunities for active play, physical/occupational therapy, exercise, and passive recreation enjoyment for all generations.