Coming together in Jackson Square
As Bostonians deeply committed to youth and family development, we believe that now is the time to invest in Jackson Square. At the edge of Jamaica Plain and Roxbury, Jackson Square is at a crossroads.
Nearly 40 years ago, a failed attempt to run Interstate 95 through the area left the neighborhood with demolished parcels of land. It took an entire generation before redevelopment began. The families of this community have worked long and hard for this reinvestment, and are beginning to see their efforts come to fruition. There are new units of both affordable and market-rate housing being built and new relationships being forged; Jackson Square is transforming into a dynamic new neighborhood.
However, what makes a true, grounded community is more than just the brick-and-mortar of housing units. Families need places to congregate, shop, and most importantly, to play and learn.
Studies show that out-of-school activities, specifically those related to physical fitness, are critical to the healthy development of children and young people. Young people benefit tremendously when they have access to recreational and after-school activities. They are more likely to stay in school and develop healthy lifelong habits. Their grades improve. Sadly, children living in urban neighborhoods — many of whom are Hispanic and African- American — often have limited access to safe, affordable environments for out-of-school playtime, and Jackson Square is no exception.
The solution is to create a safe, affordable place for youth to come together. More than a decade ago the people of Jackson Square asked for a recreation center. Four organizations that formed the Jackson Square Partners — Urban Edge, Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corp., the Hyde Square Task Force, and the Community Builders — prepared a comprehensive plan for the future that includes this important piece. That is why so many people from different walks of life — from Olympic gold medalists Mike Eruzione and Kristine Lilly to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and school Superintendent Tommy Chang — support development of the Jackson Square Recreation Center.
The planned two-story center will have a regulation-size ice rink on the first floor and a turf field of equivalent size on the second floor. Young people throughout the adjacent neighborhoods will be able to use the facility yearround for organized and unstructured recreational activities. They can play soccer and a wide range of turf-based sports. There will be space for after-school programs and community activities.
There are 26,000 young people who live within 1.5 miles of Jackson Square. The square itself includes the Bromley-Heath public housing development on one side and Academy Homes on the other. Of the 26,000 kids in the neighborhood, only 10 percent participate in after-school activities. It’s not because they are uninterested — the fact that the nearby outdoor Kelly Rink, which only operates in the winter, is consistently packed with skaters is proof otherwise. But the community is still missing a key element for young people. There is no place where they can be active, forge new friendships, foster existing relationships and experiment with new ways to learn — all in a safe environment.
The need and the demand for a recreation center are there — and so is the support. The project is expected to cost $21.5 million, but between state bond financing, tax credits and other funds, the community development corporation Urban Edge has already raised more than $11 million. To turn the vision of the center into a reality, Urban Edge is in the process of raising the remainder of funds.
There is a clear way forward to make Jackson Square a remarkable destination for children and families — and a model for addressing the needs of young people living in underserved communities. As a community and a society, we can do more to help young people by giving them the same opportunities for play, recreation, and teamwork as their peers. Building the Jackson Square Recreation Center is an investment in the future.