Norman B. Leventhal Park and Post Office Square represent an incredible transformation of an otherwise forgotten space in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. Mentioned as a “green oasis in an asphalt desert,” the site serves as a model for other locations that need to enable engagement in areas that are otherwise poorly utilized.
An Expression of Downtown Boston
Named after the United States Post Office and Sub-Treasury that were within the space in 1874, the actual Post Office moved in the 1950s, enabling the installation of a parking garage on the site. Seen as a blight on the entire downtown area, in the 1980s, Norman B. Leventhal, a prominent Boston developer, sought to totally transform the space by making it an expression of downtown Boston. The garage was destroyed in 1988 while a new underground structure was opened in 1990. The park above was completed in 1992,
Designed to be a garden for all seasons. The space is defined by Norman B. Leventhal Park. The George Thorndike Angell Memorial is the most notable landmark in the park, which was created as a watering spot for horses in 1912. Named for the founder of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a creature pond made up of assorted bronze animals resides nearby.
Post Office Square integrates the busy identity of downtown Boston with calmer elements and gives audiences a space to reflect. Featuring a café, fountains, and a pergola around a central lawn, Post Office Square invites people from all over to engage with the space and one another, highlighting an important means of connection in an area that had otherwise been forgotten.
Where People’s Paths Converge
Mentioned as a trigger in jump-starting Boston’s downtown revival, Norman B. Leventhal Park and Post Office Square represent a literal crossroads for the city and brings together communities to attract visitors. Mentioned as the kind of iconic destination that cities of all sizes need, it highlights how spaces of any type or kind can be transformed in a way that enables engagement in the short and long term.
