On Monday, Mayor Marty Walsh and the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics announced that the City of Boston will be soliciting ideas to revamp the event programming for City Hall Plaza.
Fittingly called ReEvent the Plaza, the initiative is one of several facets the city is using to activate the plaza and turn it into a destination for residents and nonnatives to enjoy and no longer gawk at with a begrudging eye.
“From businesses in the area, to a student on summer break, to a resident with a great idea, we hope to see ideas from everyone,” said Mayor Walsh in a statement. “This is truly an open opportunity for all to create a more welcoming and world class space for the public.”
Everyone, including individuals and organizations of all size and scope, are encouraged to submit ideas for events and attractions, which can be done here. The deadline is July 3.
The idea here is to utilize the sprawling space in between and in conjunction with programming already scheduled for the plaza. Winning submissions will be determined by city officials and all are expected to be free, though if some require any additional logistical support, like increased security measures for example, that person or organization behind the event may have to pay for that.
A spokesperson for Mayor Marty Walsh told BostInno that this will be determined on a case-by-case basis and become clearer once the new slate becomes more solidified.
According to the City of Boston, the following guidelines for submissions must be adhered to:
- The event should be free and open to the public, meaning the general public can easily attend or sign up ahead of time.
- The event should be implementable within the next six months.
- The event can be small or large, but should have an intended number of attendees.
- Events that can be replicated or scaled in the future are most compelling.
Just this morning I contended that event programming is a crucial aspect to the success of City Hall Plaza’s comprehensive redesign, responses to which the Walsh administration is currently reviewing and will subsequently inform a Request for Proposals (RFP).
The plaza, which currently goes for $200 per hour for organizations to host an event on, is quickly becoming an attractive venue for concerts, parties and other popular happenings for residents but it’s still something of a brick wasteland.
Most recently plastic Adirondack chairs were brought to the plaza with accompanying tables soon to follow, and already people are utilizing the space despite the fact that only basic furniture has been added to it.
The revenue generated from that $200 per hour fee is used to fund free, public events which, in tandem with simple furniture, are helping transform the plaza into a place where people are willing to congregate.
