Petition for a memorial plaque in a park or playground

Only the commission has the authority to approve a plaque in a park or playground. Also, not all areas in the City’s parks and playgrounds are eligible for memorial plaques.

If there is a controversy or conflict about a plaque, the commission will resolve the issue at a formal hearing. The hearing will take place in the same community as the park or playground. The City’s chief landscape architect also must approve any plaque placed in a park or playground.

Your letter needs to include:

• a justification for your proposal
• biographical or historical information about the proposed name, and
• the relationship between the person and the park you want to name or rename.

You can send the letter to:

Commissioner Ryan Woods

Parks and Recreation Commission

1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd Floor

Boston, MA 02118

The commission usually meets on the last Monday of each month. They will send you a date for a proposed hearing in the mail. To make it onto the agenda of that meeting, you need to send the commission this information at least three weeks before the hearing date:

• Letters of support from local elected officials.
• A petition that shows support for the plaque. At least 100 residents in the vicinity of the park must sign the petition.
• Letters on letterhead from all community groups in the area in which the park or playground is located. The letters must state the opinion of the groups on the proposal. Neighborhood Services can give you more information on area groups.
• Letters on letterhead from organized groups that use the park or playground. These letters must state their opinion of the proposed plaque.

If you followed all the previous steps, you will then need to present your proposal to the Parks and Recreation Commission at the hearing. If you have any questions, please contact the commission at 617-961-3074 or prc@boston.gov.