Piers Park 2 is a new 4.6-acre, universally accessible public park on the East Boston waterfront, constructed on a large vacant parcel. The park provides active and passive forms of open space recreation and is a complementary extension of the existing Piers Park 1. The project also included a 1,600-square-foot sailing center building and a 900-square-foot open-air teaching pavilion.

New Park Amenities and Features

Piers Park 2 included the construction and installation of a large central lawn area, a multi-generational exercise area, a children’s playground, a water play fountain, picnic groves, site furniture, irrigation and lighting systems, extensive landscape planting, underground utilities and drainage systems, and a 39-car public parking lot. The Boston Harborwalk was extended from Piers Park 1 into Piers Park 2. The Harborwalk affords beautiful views of Boston Harbor and the downtown Boston skyline. The park grading also created an important flood protection berm that helps to cut off a major flood path into East Boston.

Sustainable Engineering Considerations

The selection of durable and low-maintenance materials and landscaping products was a key factor in the design. Landscaping materials, which included native trees and shrubs, were chosen for low maintenance. The Sailing Center is protected from flooding per Massport’s Floodproofing Design Guide. The building has a large expanse of aluminum windows facing Boston Harbor, which provide the staff with a direct line of sight to the students sailing in the Harbor. Kleinfelder’s strong project planning, management, and controls resulted in mindful integration of engineering and design, along with community outreach, construction phasing, and operations planning.

Project Results

The park was officially opened to the public at a ribbon cutting ceremony on December 15, 2023, meeting Massport’s ambitious schedule.

Piers Park 2 received the Infrastructure Project Constructed Value Less Than $30 Million Project of the Year Award (2024) from the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), New England Chapter.

Check out a video highlighting this award-winning project!

Project Details

Location:
Boston, MA
Owner:
Massachusetts Port Authority