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Chinatown Park

The Chinatown Park opening was held on September 12, 2007.

Chinatown Park begins at the historic gateway to Chinatown at Surface Road and Beach Street and blends into a new public space that anchors the southern end of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. With nearly an acre of open plaza and landscaping, the new park transforms an unsightly exit ramp from the old Central Artery into the largest public recreational area in the Chinatown-Leather District neighborhood.

The concept for Chinatown Park was inspired by the passage of Asian immigrants through Boston and the subsequent generations of families that have forged an indelible identity with the city.

The design theme is a reflection of Asian culture. Gates, stones, streams and plantings build upon the ideas of Feng Shui: that space must have balance and harmony among the elements. Chinatown Park honors the rich history of Chinese culture in Boston while meeting the needs of the neighborhood and welcoming a global community of visitors and tourists.

A signature feature of Chinatown Park is the distinctive pavement pattern in front of the Chinatown Gate. Designed by California artist May Sun and patterned after a Chinese chessboard, the "square within a circle" pattern symbolizes heaven and earth in Chinese culture. A river of stainless steel and colored concrete runs through the center of the chessboard depicting a map of Boston focused on Chinatown, South Station and the Fort Point Channel.

The park will accommodate a wide variety of neighborhood activities, including Chinese New Year celebrations and other cultural events such as lantern festivals, traditional Asian dances, outdoor markets with cafe dining and puppet theaters.

A contemporary red steel gateway at the Essex Street entrance to the park complements the traditional Chinatown Gate at Beach Street. The promenade through the Essex Street gate connects the Greenway to the heart of Chinatown. The promenade is densely planted with bamboo, willow, Chinese cherry, ginkgo, black pine, azaleas and peonies, which all have cultural significance within the Asian community.

The Chinatown park is designed by Carol R. Johnson Associates of Boston for the residents of Chinatown and surrounding neighborhoods.