2019: The Westland Avenue Gateway project is underway. For more information, visit: https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/improvements-back-bay-fens-westland-avenue-gateway
2018: Fenway Civic Association secured $200,000 in funding (Fund for Parks and Recreation, grantee) through Boston’s Community Preservation Act funding to allow full restoration of this capital project to occur.
2017 Update: Capital funds were approved with an increased budget of $1,002,000, which still did not allow the full stabilization and increased estimates for repair for the monument. FCA secured $67,985 in funding through the Boston Planning and Development Agency’s community benefits grant (Fund for Parks and Recreation, awardee), specifically to address the increase in estimated costs to repair the Johnson Gates. The public planning process for improvements to the Back Bay Fens Westland Avenue Gateway was conducted coordinated by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. Public meetings and project information, including repairs to the Johnson Gates are available at:
https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/improvements-back-bay-fens-westland-avenue-gateway
2016 Update: The Johnson Memorial Gates and surrounding parkland were have been included in Mayor Walsh’s 2017 budget in a capital improvement project managed by the Parks and Recreation Department. Established as a new project in FY’16, partial appropriations of the $820,000 allocation in FY’17 allowed will allow for preliminary work on the park, including site assessment and project planning.
2014 Update: With FCA’s application and advocacy, Johnson Gates were recognized as a Most Endangered Historic Resource by Preservation Massachusetts. For more details on the nomination and selection, see our update here.
Marie Fukuda receiving the Most Endangered Resource designation for the Johnson Gates
In May 2013, FCA consulted with conservators and conducted a site visit with owners and the City to assess conditions at the Gates. Following this visit, proposals for bronze conservation and exploratory work to perform assessments and treatment recommendations for the monument were included in a grant proposal. Funding was awarded, with bronze components cleaned, repainted, and waxed in October 2013 by conservator Rika McNally and masonry assessments performed in November 2013 by conservator Ivan Myjer. This work was made possible with the help of neighbors, the residents and management companies at 73 and 97 Hemenway Street, both of whom provided electricity and water access.
The conditions assessment revealed major structural issues with the tall piers and the horse troughs of the Gates. Estimated costs to stabilize the three elements exceed $229,000.00, and a total rebuild of the piers bring those figures to over one million dollars. To view the conditions assessment, click here.
Fenway Civic is working to secure funding for this important conservation work. We will continue to work towards repairs to the Gates as well as advocate for improvements to the parkland and pathways surrounding them, and invite your support.
For photographs of the restoration work, please see the following links:
Fenway Civic Association 