The Old North Church Foundation will host a public hearing on Thursday, May 25th at 6:30 p.m. at the church (193 Salem St.) to discuss plans for its Washington Garden and Courtyard. The redesign looks to transform the space into an outdoor education and art space interpreting Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride.”
The purpose of the event is to hear the opinions of various stakeholders, community organizations and the general public to envision the full potential of the Washington Garden as a space where its half a million visitors can learn more about America’s history. Old North is proposing to open up the garden and courtyard and add at least two significant interpretive elements: a water feature that includes the poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride”, and a map of the ride laid out in horseshoes and plaques.
North End resident Sean Sanger of Copley Wolff Design Group, landscape architect for the project, will lead the discussion. Weather permitting, the hearing will begin in the courtyard. Participants will be invited to comment on preliminary plans and add their own ideas for making the space more enjoyable for the whole community. This event is held with a goal of generating public opinion and ideas for the redesign project going forward. The design process is funded by the Browne Fund of the City of Boston, a public arts fund, and by the Beacon Hill Garden Club, longtime caretakers of the garden.
See the proposed redesign plans below.
