With bids coming in far above the projected budget, it seems the wait for a new-and-improved public park in Codman Square will continue indefinitely.

Cynthia Loesch-Johnson, president of the Codman Square Neighborhood Council (CSNC), reported to the group at their July 3 meeting that the lowest applicant was more than $300,000 over the anticipated $900,000 budget. “The city will have to re-bid the project,” she said. “It could mean an additional delay of a month or two, and we have to rebuild our plan…We’re not going to make our timeline and without additional funds, I don’t know what will happen.”

The park, situated at Washington Street and Talbot Avenue in front of the historic Second Church of Dorchester, was slated to see more accessible walkways and the installation of a stage with electricity for performances and better entry points. Construction was to end in July 2025 in time to host next year’s farmer’s market, but that’s now uncertain.

Loesch-Johnson said that if significantly more funding isn’t raised, neighbors and the city would have to scale back plans to fit within the budget.

Charter School Safety Issues
Board members of the CSNC have been meeting with leaders from the Neighborhood House Charter School’s (NHCS) Centre Street campus and other community stakeholders in recent weeks to address the violence that caused the closure of the school for one week last month. Those involved in discussions with the school also included Friends of Dr. Loesch Family Park, St. Mark’s Area Civic Association, the Epiphany School, and the House of Seven coffee kiosk.

“A number of people now are working together to try to figure out a path to address what happened,” said Loesch-Johnson. “It was our first meeting [last week], and things are going in a great direction, and we are establishing a strong relationship with the school to move toward a safe September when students return.”

Ruffin Foundation recipients in Codman Square
Codman Square residents Saranya Sathananthan and Cathy Loesch were recent recipients of Thomas Ruffin Foundation grants. The Roxbury-based organization awards grants to residents working on neighborhood projects.

Sathananthan is looking to create a community wellness/flex space in the Second Church, noting that she has been working with different “people in the community to come up with different needs for the space.” They are putting a vision together with an interior design team for space to hold community events with up to about 25 people and would serve as a wellness space. Book clubs and coffee hours have also been suggested as uses.

Cathy Loesch is a mental health counselor who is using her grant to establish a practice at her home to help address mental health needs in children, adults, and senior citizens – as well as connecting them to resources to prevent issues that might be leading to mental health crises involving housing and food.

“I want to work in my neighborhood,” she said. “I find that a lot of therapists come into the neighborhood from other places and don’t understand what people are experiencing here. I heard that same firework and that same gunshot. I’m here, too, and I can relate.” She opened her practice in December.

Squares + Streets still working
The new resident group known as Codman Square United continues to work with the Boston Planning Department (formerly the Boston Planning and Development Agency) on the Codman Square and Four Corners planning efforts. Mike Prokosch updated CSNC that since a May 4 meeting, United has been trying to figure out the addition of Four Corners to the effort. He said the new deal could dramatically change the way Codman Square and Four Corners look and operate with denser housing and different businesses in the future, so community input now is essential. He warned that planners need to hear from the community immediately.

“These people are new to the neighborhood and need help understanding us,” he said.

A list of events this summer from the city about the effort is due out soon. It’s a list that Prokosch called “ambitious.” He said United is very concerned about the displacement of existing residents and businesses when the plans go into effect and buildouts start.

House of Seven’s Kiosk paused for summer
The popular House of Seven’s Coffee Kiosk at Shawmut Station has closed for the season and operator Tamicka Brown is now offering her coffee and teas at the Codman Square Farmer’s Market for the season. Foot traffic at the station is diminished greatly in the summer with people on vacation, and nearby schools out, too. She will likely re-open in the fall.