East Boston Piers Masterplan
Location: East Boston, Massachusetts
Date Completed: May, 1985
Client: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management

The Masterplan established the project's basic character, program and form.

As a landscape architect with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management, Harry Dodson completed a revitalization plan for an abandoned commercial waterfront in East Boston. The proposal includes a park, housing, office, parking, pavilion, concession kiosk, boat marina and other waterfront uses on a renovated commercial pier complex. The masterplan called for historic ships to be docked along existing piers for reuse as restaurants, commercial space, office or residential uses. An interpretive exhibit highlighting the area’s history as a center of shipbuilding and maritime commerce is a central element of the masterplan. The masterplan received strong community and funding agency acceptance and led to the eventual restoration of the central pier complex as a community park and recreation area.

The masterplan served as a catalyst for obtaining community support as well as public and private funding for the project. Design and construction plans were then prepared by Pressley Associates and other firms and the final project was built in 1988. Since then, the park and restored piers have played a central role in the revitalization of the East Boston waterfront. Use of the park has been active, local real estate values have climbed and expansion of the park on adjacent piers has been proposed and has received strong community backing.

Pier Gazebo: The Masterplan called for restoring dynamic structures to the pier.		Boat & Tree: A recreational boating program was a central part of the Masterplan.
Park: Former vacant industrial lands have been converted into parks and playgrounds.		Pavilion & Boat: Pavilions, gazebos and concession kiosks animate the restored piers.