Located alongside the Thomas E. Burgin Parkway in Quincy, Massachusetts, Freedom Park uniquely celebrates the legacy of the city and people who helped define it. Transforming what would otherwise be an empty or non-descript boulevard, Freedom Park showcases what it can look like to create interest and engagement in spaces that are otherwise unremarkable.
The Monuments of Freedom Park
Located on the other side of the train tracks and across from the Quincy Historical Society, Freedom Park is within walking distance of notable monuments like Hancock Adams Common and the John Hancock Birth Site. While the park has a history that connects to the birth of the nation, the multiple monuments that have been installed over the last few decades are what define it.
The most notable piece in Freedom Park is an Untitled Sculpture by Edward P. Monti. Moved to Freedom Park in 1993, the sculpture represents the three people who drafted the Massachusetts Constitution. Each of the granite forms signifies John Adams, Samuel Adams and James Bowdoin, as all three direct the flow of movement toward the middle of the sculpture. The other pieces facing these three primary stones curve and interact upon each other, signifying the unifying strength of the Constitution.
As viewers walk through Freedom Park, they come across other memorials like the Triumph of Courage, which was created to honor the men and women of the United States who participated in World War II. There is also a memorial for the Fuller Brothers, who dedicated their lives to Scouting in Quincy. A figurative sculpture of John Adams is the tallest piece in the park.
All of these landmarks are set amidst the natural greenery of the park and can be accessed via pathways that feature plenty of open space for sitting and relaxing, enabling residents and visitors to use the space in a variety of ways. This transformation has cultivated engagement in a way that benefits the surrounding community on multiple levels.
Cultivating Engagement
While the busy boulevard impacts the experience audiences can have in the otherwise serene space, the existence of Freedom Park is more about what it means to cultivate engagement in a space that would otherwise be empty or derelict. Providing a welcome connection to President’s Trails monuments for visitors as well as a place to relax for residents, Freedom Park has positively transformed the space and experiences audiences can have with it.
