Trolley Square Park

Two community meetings were held in May and October of 2006, to discuss the new park at Trolley Square. These meetings were an opportunity for residents and future users of the park to provide information on neighborhood open space needs and design preferences for the park.

During the process staff also presented some of the design criteria that are considered in planning a public open space such as this one:

• A successful park design creates a gathering place for community activities (not just a path to somewhere else)
• The new park should feel open and welcoming; accessible to everyone; a public space.
• The new park should be an urban oasis in an otherwise very active location.
• The new park should be unique to itself and yet feel like a logical extension of the existing park (Linear).
• The existing park (Linear) has it’s own visual character or “language” that needs to be respected.
• Introduce naturalizing materials and plantings to create calming, tranquil and peaceful surroundings.
• The new park should be dynamic, interesting, stimulating, and beautiful.

The new park features a plaza area, trees, plantings, a flower garden, lighting, and benches and tables. Improvements to the open space also include a landscaped pedestrian link to Linear Park and improvements at the connection to Linear Park. The pedestrian link contains new lighting, trees, benches and plantings. The Linear Park improvements also include similar features, as well as bike racks, an authentic trolley wheels display with historic panel, and an innovative piece of play equipment that can function as a warm-up station for exercisers.

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Located north of Porter Square on Massachusetts Avenue, Trolley Square has provided a location for the storage and repair of trackless trolleys since the earliest streetcars came to Cambridge. In 2001 the City acquired title to a site in Trolley Square previously owned by the MBTA. The future of this site, located at the intersection of Linear Park, Massachusetts and Cameron Avenue, was the focus of the Trolley Square Committee's work in 2002.

• Homeowners Rehab Inc. (HRI) Trolley Square information
• Linear Park - Massachusetts Avenue Crossing
• Trolley Square Committee Report

Trolley Square Committee Meeting Notes

• February 7, 2002 
• March 7, 2002 
• April 4, 2002 
• May 2, 2002
• June 6, 2002
• June 20, 2002
• June 26, 2002  
• July 25, 2002 
• August 29, 2002
• September 12, 2002 
• October 17, 2002 

 

• October 10, 2006 Trolley Square Park Meeting Presentation

• October 10, 2006 Trolley Square Park Meeting Notes

• May 11, 2006 Trolley Square Park Meeting Notes

For information about park maintenance, reservations for events, and athletic field permits, please visit the Permits and Maintenance page on our website.

For more information, contact Gary Chan at 617/349-4603 or by email at gchan@cambridgema.gov.