The Boston Parks and Recreation Department incorporated feedback received from a community meeting and an online survey into the design process. The final design was presented online and put out to bid. Construction started in the fall of 2019.

"We are pleased to reopen Thetford Evans Playground for the Mattapan community as part of our citywide plan to provide residents of all ages with quality green and play spaces," said Mayor Walsh. "In Boston, we are committed to ensuring that all residents enjoy quality open space. As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, parks and green spaces continue to play a vital role for our residents' physical and mental health."

The $625,000 project budget was funded by Mayor Walsh's Capital Improvement Plan. Thetford Evans is one of several parks recently reopened within current health guidelines in Dorchester, Hyde Park, Mattapan, and South Boston.

Reflective of the input from the community, the new design re-imagines the space and re-orients the play features. The large, centrally located paved area has been split into two areas in harmony with the landscape. Additionally, there is an upgraded water play area that can also be used for events and markets. A second gathering area features an ADA-compatible community table picnic area.

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The older and younger children's play structures have been replaced with new state-of-the-art equipment, including a climbing net. The design also replaced three bays of swings with two belt swings, two toddler bucket swings, and a basket rope seat swing that allows multiple children to swing together. Additional improvements include fencing repairs as well as repairing and repainting the wall that separates the playground from the courts.

Since 2014, the Walsh administration has invested more than $115 million across the city's parks systems, representing some of the most significant parks investments in Boston's history. The Fiscal Year 2021-2025 (FY21-FY25) Capital Plan includes enhanced support to maintain the City's Urban Wilds and Tree Canopy, increases in funding to plant and maintain trees across the city, and over $36 million for new and ongoing open space projects in Fiscal Year 2021.

For current social distancing guidelines in City of Boston parks, please visit our COVID-19 website.

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