The Lawn on D opens for Season 11 on Saturday, June 29, bringing new interactive installations, foodie-friendly bites and beverages, and community events.
Two marquee additions are now part of the Lawn on D experience: the Kaleidoscope Garden and Urban Grove interactive installations. Both installations are illuminated in the night sky with customizable LED lighting, giving visitors new spaces to reflect and relax at all times of the day.
Kaleidoscope Garden: Connect & Capture
This new light garden features a field of illuminated disks. In the center is a mirrored kaleidoscope, great for capturing picture-perfect moments.
Kaleidoscope Garden by Perkins&Will, a Boston-based studio established in 1935, is co-designed by Sarah Brophy and Katherine Chin. The installation is produced by BRM, a certified woman-owned business founded in 2016, under the direction of General Contractor and Founder Bianca R. Mauro.
“We looked to the kaleidoscope as an awe-inspiring apparatus to create ever-changing experiences that set the imagination ablaze and capture the fleeting, light-filled spirit of summer,” said designers Sarah Brophy and Katherine Chin. “Kaleidoscope Garden invites people to wander through an immersive particle field of firefly-like glowing discs before entering the central oculus, where they partake in a communal act of image-making with the changing sky.”
Urban Grove: Recharge & Reflect
This new cove features a network of shaded nest seating under mirrored leaf coverings. After dark, the hue-changing lighting creates a shimmering canopy overhead.
Urban Grove is designed by Arrowstreet, a Boston-based architecture and design firm established in the 1960s, under the direction of Principal Lauren Haggerty. The installation is fabricated in partnership with Image One, a service company founded in 2007, under the direction of Sales & Fabrication Expert Kyle Wolfe.
“The Urban Grove represents Arrowstreet’s goal of creating interactive experiences for communities to gather, reflect, and relax,” said Arrowstreet Senior Associate Jenna Carolan. “The installation symbolizes a commitment to preserving and expanding shaded green spaces within our city landscapes while also infusing the space with an element of whimsy and delight. We are excited to see the Urban Grove come to life, and we hope the community will take the time to reflect—both figuratively and literally—in this space and enjoy the renewed vibrancy of the Lawn on D.”
The MCCA has made a significant investment in upgrades to the Lawn on D's infrastructure, adding more power and increasing Wi-Fi access. As a catalyst for development on the South Boston Waterfront, the Lawn on D is enhancing the customer experience by installing giant Adirondack chairs, pickleball court dividers and courtside benches, new artificial turf, and improved lighting that can extend pickleball court hours past sunset.
Community programming will continue throughout the season, including the return of annual event favorites.
The MCCA will host two Signature Series events for the community, including a summer event on Saturday, August 17 and a fall festival on Saturday, October 5. As always, all public events are free and open to all ages.
A free FitFest will provide complimentary fitness classes, themed gear, and more on Saturday, July 13, the first of several select Saturday events by Rebel Restaurants.
The 4th Annual Boston While Black Family Reunion returns to the Lawn on D on Saturday, July 20 for an all-day celebration of Black community, culture, and joy in Boston.
Community access plays a key role in our programming at the Lawn on D. This season, we are excited for the return of Monday Fundays, building on our annual partnership with the Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF), with camps and community centers from across Greater Boston visiting the Lawn on D for fun in the sun and interactive programming provided by our local partners.
“The MCCA is very excited for the highly anticipated opening of the Lawn on D for its 11th season,” said Gloria Larson, Interim Executive Director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. “We have a lot of great programming built into the calendar this year, with returning clients and community partnerships, as well as new adventures at one of Boston’s most innovative, inclusive and dynamic outdoor event spaces.”
New craft bites and beverages premiere this season at Lawn on D concessions, including elevated sharables, crafted sandwiches, and draft brews.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with the MCCA as the F&B events and concession provider for the Lawn on D,” said Kristen Bonish, General Manager of Rebel Restaurants at the Lawn on D. “Throughout the season we will be introducing new offerings to suit all tastes. We look forward to delivering an exciting culinary experience at the Lawn!”
Visitors will also experience live bands and free public programming through October.
For private events in Boston, the Lawn on D continues to be a sought-after outdoor venue, as a growing number of events are already contracted for 2024. Contact our sales team to learn about hosting your event at the Lawn on D!
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