The Boston Transportation Department officially opened the Edgerly Plaza, a pedestrian walkway, in front of Whole Foods on Westland Avenue Oct. 30. The plaza was designed as a space for community enjoyment, with several tables scattered across the strip of pavement for people to sit and dine at, as well as recreational activities like hopscotch for children to play.
The City of Boston, in partnership with the Boston Transportation Department and the
Fenway Civic Association, celebrated the unveiling of the new walkway with a launch party Nov. 1. Food, live music and dancing got residents of Fenway and nearby neighborhoods engaged with the occasion.
“It’s been a really joyous event,” said Maya Mudgal, a transit planner for the City of Boston. “People are really excited that the space is here and that we came out.”
Efforts to create this space have been in the works for the past few years. In 2022, former City Councilor Kenzie Bok’s team discovered that in a 45-minute period, only 51 vehicles drove through the site of the new plaza compared to the 413 people that walked through. The transportation department found that over eight times as many people walked through the space rather than drove, indicating a need for a safe walkway to and from Whole Foods.
During Fenway Porch Fest, as well as throughout the year, Bok’s team experimented with shutting down the street parking leading from Whole Foods to Caffè Nero and making it pedestrian-only and found that residents enjoyed having the designated walking space.
Marie Fukuda, a Boston Cultural Council member, worked with the city to help organize the launch party on behalf of the Fenway Civic Association.
“I’ve heard a lot of excitement about the plaza being open, and at the same time heard some concerns from car owners about what it means for their parking needs,” Fukuda said. “Now, we’re trying to find a balance between parking and pedestrian needs.”
Parking availability is one of the central concerns in response to the arrival of the plaza. For those who rely on cars to get groceries and may have accessibility issues, the new pathway eliminates the previously available street parking close to Whole Foods’ entrance.
Residents of the neighborhood, like Donna Gomes-Small, are quick to supply possible fixes. Gomes-Small lives down the street from Whole Foods and proposed ideas about creating designated spaces for handicapped residents so they can easily access the store.
“[The transportation department members] are waiting for me to give them some ideas about parking,” Gomes-Small said. “They’re pretty good about listening to new ideas and considering them.”
Despite these concerns, the general sentiment at the launch party was one of positivity and excitement.
“I think it’ll make just crossing over safer,” said Brian Heath, who has lived in the Fenway area for over two decades. “And it’s always good for the neighborhood to be changing for the better and continue to make progress.”
The City of Boston keeps a documented list of ongoing projects aimed to keep the city safer and more accessible. Ranging from calling for more speed checks on roads known for having fast drivers in Dorchester to creating better bike path access on Boylston Street in Fenway, the arrival of the Edgerly Plaza is just another step toward making the city easier to travel through for everyone.
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