Roslindale Village Main Street Launches Commonwealth Places Campaign for Poplar Street Improvements
$25,000 goal to win matching grant through MassDevelopment’s Commonwealth Places Initiative
November 6, 2018
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
Alia Hamada Forres, RVMS, 617-327-4065
director@roslindale.net
MassDevelopment and the civic crowdfunding platform Patronicity have launched a new Commonwealth Places campaign with the nonprofit organization Roslindale Village Main Street to make infrastructure improvements to the Poplar Street sidewalk in Roslindale Village. Together with residents and local businesses, Roslindale Village Main Street has worked to transform Roslindale Village into a bustling, vibrant district in the heart of Boston’s Roslindale neighborhood. However, Poplar Street, located between South Street and Corinth Street and directly across from Adams Park, remains poorly lit and uninviting to pedestrians. Using campaign funds, Roslindale Village Main Street will install new lighting, seating, planters, bicycle racks, and recycling and trash containers along the Poplar Street sidewalk, upgrade the nearby informational kiosk, and work with local artists to paint sidewalk murals. These enhancements aim to increase foot traffic to nearby businesses and create a better link between Poplar Street and Adams Park, with the improved sidewalk serving as new space where people can gather and interact during community events that take place at the park, including the weekly farmers’ market.
“Placemaking projects not only help visually improve public spaces, but they also draw residents in to dine, shop, and spend time with their fellow neighbors and community members,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss. “MassDevelopment applauds Roslindale Village Main Street for its effort to enhance Poplar Street, and we look forward to helping the community make this vision a reality.”
If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $25,000 by November 22 at midnight, the project will win a matching grant with funds from MassDevelopment’s Commonwealth Places program. Learn more and donate at www.patronicity.com/Poplar.
"While many blocks in Roslindale have benefited from numerous improvement projects, the Poplar Street stretch of sidewalk between South and Corinth Streets, across from Adams Park suffers from neglect and fails to serve as an attractive pedestrian way,” said Alia Hamada Forrest, Executive Director of Roslindale Village Main Streets. “This initiative will brighten Poplar Street, add attractive design elements, and make other material improvements. Such enhancements to this popular thoroughfare will draw increased foot traffic to local businesses, and instill a sense of community pride among the people of Roslindale."
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 and 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.
