Framingham Launches Commonwealth Places for Irving Street Park
$50,000 goal to win matching grant through MassDevelopment’s Commonwealth Places
May 01, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Kelsey Schiller, MassDevelopment, 617-330-2011 & 617-694-9695 (cell)
kschiller@massdevelopment.com
Jonathan Berk, Patronicity, 617-750-6008
jonathan@Patronicity.com
Sam Scoppettonne, City of Framingham, 508-532-5455
sns@framinghamma.gov
MassDevelopment and the civic crowdfunding platform Patronicity have launched a new Commonwealth Places campaign with the City of Framingham to transform a vacant gravel parking lot, located one block south of Irving Square in downtown Framingham, into a much-needed neighborhood park complete with trees, flowers, benches, a winding path, a corner gathering place, and a shade pergola. Landscape architect Christine Wilson of Copley Wolff Design Group facilitated a site visit and visioning workshop with nearby residents in fall 2018 and created a conceptual design for the pocket park using community input.
“This park will be a welcome addition to all who live, work, or visit Framingham,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss. “In addition to activating a vacant lot, the park will serve as an inviting gateway to all the shops, restaurants, and amenities located downtown.”
If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by June 30 at midnight, the project will win a matching grant with funds from MassDevelopment’s Commonwealth Places program. Learn more and donate to Framingham’s Irving Street Park project at patronicity.com/irvingstreetpark.
“A thriving downtown requires beautiful and vibrant public spaces for residents, visitors, and workers to enjoy,” said Erika Jerram, Framingham’s Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development. “South side residents want and need more green space and this park will be a great investment in our community.”
Commonwealth Places is a collaborative initiative from MassDevelopment and Patronicity that leverages public support for placemaking projects through crowdfunding and a matching grant from MassDevelopment. The program engages residents in the development of strategic projects in their towns and cities. In November 2018, MassDevelopment announced $500,000 in funding for the third year of the program, which has supported successful campaigns across the Commonwealth, from Northampton to Hyannis. Communities, nonprofits, and other entities can learn more about these successful projects, donate to ongoing campaigns, and apply at massdevelopment.com/commonwealthplaces.
MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2018, MassDevelopment financed or managed 384 projects generating investment of more than $4.1 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 10,994 jobs and build or rehabilitate 830 housing units.