Merit Award
Desi gn : Pa rks a nd Rec rea t i on Fa c i l i t i es
Stephen Stimson Associates
project name.
location.
Mary Soo Hoo Park
Boston, Massachusetts
Gateway Park was a pocket park of the Boston Chinatown
community, located at the southern end of the Rose
Kennedy Greenway. It sat in the shadow of the historic
Chinatown Gate and a DOT vent tower. In recent decades, the park had become a source of public ealth
h
and safety concerns.
The park restoration had a series of challenges and
constraints relating to context and site features. The
design solution artfully combined several distinctive site
elements. In the plaza design, the sheltered west side
incorporates tables carefully arranged to encourage one
of the primary activities of the park - Chinese chess. A
flexible open space accommodates seasonal festivals,
small performances, and group activities. A sculptural
centerpiece that serves a 2&