BOSTON – Saturday, August 29, 2026 – The Boston Housing Authority, the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, and The Community Builders joined Faneuil Gardens residents on Saturday to unveil a transformed community gathering and play space. The end-of-summer celebration marked an early preview of broader investments in the Faneuil Gardens community and included a performance by the band Los Mambiseros.

“Faneuil Gardens is a vibrant, tight-knit community, and this newly improved courtyard will be a space where events are hosted, residents enjoy time outdoors together, and kids get to play,” said Boston Housing Authority Administrator Kenzie Bok. “The courtyard is only the beginning of the major investments we’ll be making in the Faneuil Gardens community. I’m so grateful to our residents and The Community Builders for being our partners as we undertake this transformative redevelopment.” 

Designed by Ground Inc, and installed by CultureHouse, the project brings a bright, colorful design to the outdoor space, unifying it with a mural by artist Anna Dugan that was completed last year. 

“We were proud to work with the residents of Faneuil Gardens and The Community Builders to make more space for culture, play and gathering in everyday life,” said Joseph Henry, Chief of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston. “This courtyard shows how thoughtful investments in design, public art and spaces for performance can create places where people want to spend time together and strengthen community life. We’re excited to continue this approach across Boston, making arts and culture a more visible and normal part of our shared public spaces.”

The project adds new seating, outdoor furniture, and a performance platform built for community events and activities. Decorative planters will be installed later this year to bring additional greenery to the space. 

“This courtyard has always been a place where we can gather, relax, and watch our children play, but these updates bring a whole new energy to the space,” said Faneuil Gardens Tenant Organization President Margarita Lebron. “It’s wonderful to see this kind of investment in our community today, and it gives us a glimpse of the great things to come.”

The courtyard project is part of a broader vision for the neighborhood. In 2022, the Boston Housing Authority partnered with The Community Builders to develop a master plan for the complete transformation of the Faneuil Gardens public housing community. The plan will fully replace all 258 public housing units at Faneuil Gardens with new, modern, affordable homes and add an additional 187 mixed-income units. The plan for the redevelopment also includes additional green and play spaces, an art garden, event lawn, and other amenities.

“The transformation of this courtyard reflects what is possible when residents, community partners, and public agencies work together to invest in the heart of a neighborhood,” said Andy Waxman, senior vice president of real estate development at The Community Builders. “We believe great housing is about more than homes. It is also about creating welcoming spaces where neighbors can gather, children can play, and community life can thrive. This courtyard is an important step in the broader revitalization of Faneuil Gardens, and we are proud to help bring this vision to life.”