BOSTON — Mayor Michelle Wu today joined Boston Housing Authority (BHA) Administrator Kenzie Bok, the Franklin Field Garden Committee, GrowBoston, Community Preservation Office staff, and local residents to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for a new community garden at the Franklin Field public housing development in Dorchester.
This event marks the completion of Phase 1 of a two-phase project that is transforming underutilized space into a vibrant hub for gardening, gathering, and community wellness at Franklin Field. The project is part of a larger City initiative to expand green infrastructure and urban agriculture across Boston’s public housing communities.
“We are working to make Boston a home for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “BHA is at the center of that work, not just by providing housing but by also ensuring every resident has access to spaces outside of their home for kids to play and for community to come together. Thank you to our Franklin Field tenants and everyone who made this community garden possible.”
The completed project includes 16 accessible raised beds at varying heights to support gardeners of all ages and abilities, a composting system to promote sustainable growing and waste management, a shaded pergola seating area for rest and conversation, and a storage shed to support ongoing maintenance and programming.
“As one of the largest public landowners in Boston, the BHA has a responsibility not just to provide high-quality housing, but to ensure that our open spaces also support the well-being of our residents,” said BHA Administrator Kenzie Bok. “This garden at Franklin Field reflects what’s possible when we work hand-in-hand with residents and City partners to transform BHA land into vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable spaces that bring the community together.”
The Franklin Field garden is a collaboration between the BHA, GrowBoston, Boston’s Community Preservation Office, and the Franklin Field Tenant Taskforce and Community Garden Committee. The initiative began with a Community Preservation Act (CPA) grant in 2021, followed by funding from GrowBoston to support implementation. Planning and design were shaped in partnership with residents.
Planning for Phase 2 of the garden is now underway and will include additional raised beds, a pollinator garden, and other features. City leaders and residents are also collaborating on plans for new and revitalized gardens at a number of other BHA properties, including MLK Towers, Doris Bunte Apartments, South Street, West Broadway, and the three adjacent Brighton communities of Commonwealth Family, Commonwealth Elderly, and 91-95 Washington Street.
In parallel, BHA recently partnered with the Trust for Public Land to complete an open space survey across its portfolio, informing long-term planning for outdoor amenities. New investments will include a basketball court renovation at Franklin Field and a new playground at Archdale in Roslindale.
The new Franklin Field garden was dedicated to the late Juanda Drumgold – a longtime Franklin Field resident leader – the late Sherman Evans – a resident who served on the original garden committee – and the late Linda Marie Strother-Lyons, a dedicated community police officer who did amazing work with residents at the Franklin Field senior center. The garden will continue to be stewarded by local volunteers and supported by GrowBoston’s programming team.
Contact:
Brian Jordan,
Boston Housing Authority Director of Communications,
brian.jordan@bostonhousing.org
617-988-4395