Improving Open Space in Chinatown

The Improving Open Space in Chinatown project, from the Chinatown Community Land Trust (Chinatown CLT), utilized the support of design professionals to work with community residents and activists on developing a long-term vision for interconnected open spaces in Chinatown, with a particular focus on the eastern edge of the community. The result is a professionally designed publication about this process and vision. The project was a unifying exercise that energized the community to take action for change.

Chinatown is Boston’s densest and hottest neighborhood, making the effort to improve and expand open space even more urgent. The project includes work to realize improvements to Reggie Wong Memorial Park and Phillips Square in the next one to two years as well as longer-term planning and advocacy for a library park on Hudson Street, expanded open space on MassDOT land, and a plan for improving connectivity of what are now isolated spaces.

2025 Updates

The grant process helped energize and encourage residents to advocate for open space improvements. They have continued to be active in many public workshops and discussions about Phillips Square, Reconnecting Chinatown (air rights over the Mass Pike), and the vision of a park next to the future Chinatown Library. The community also has continued to advocate for better pedestrian connections to link isolated open spaces.

Chinatown Community Land Trust, Friends of Reggie Wong Park, and Sasaki have been moving forward with the redesign plan for Reggie Wong Memorial Park, expecting to break ground in late 2026, after MassDOT completes soil remediation. The community is 67 percent through its $3 million capital campaign.

Boston Transportation Department and Sasaki are finalizing the design proposal for Phillips Square, and community advocates have called for the project to be named Tunney Lee Plaza.