Picture this. You stand before University Park Common. A vibrant green expanse it is. But this peaceful park holds a rich history. A history far removed from its present tranquility.
University Park Common wasn’t always a park. It was once marshland. A swampy area along the Charles River. During the American Revolution this high ground hosted Fort Washington. A crucial defense point against the British during the Siege of Boston. Can you almost hear the cannons roar?
Then came the 1850s. The Grand Junction Railroad arrived. The marshes were filled. Factories sprang up. The Simplex Wire & Cable Company made its home here. So did the Kennedy Biscuit Company. They made the famous Fig Newton. Imagine the aroma of baking biscuits filling the air. There was even a Necco candy factory. A Sears shoe factory and a Ford assembly plant. This land bustled with industry.
The 1960s brought a threat. Interstate 695 the Inner Belt highway was proposed. It would have sliced through this very area. Demolishing homes in Cambridgeport. But community opposition stopped the highway. A victory for the future University Park Common.
Simplex left in 1969. MIT acquired the land. Overgrown lots remained for years. Until serious planning began in 1983. A master plan. A vision for the future. Construction finally started in 1985. The result? The mixed-use development you see today.
University Park Common wasn’t built without controversy. Community activists protested. They fought for affordable housing and the preservation of history. The fight for the balance between progress and community.
Today University Park Common thrives. Office and lab buildings house biotechnology firms. Residential buildings offer homes. Retail spaces bring life. The park itself showcases public art. Sculptures and graphic pieces tell stories of the area’s past.
Over 100 art pieces mark moments. From 18th and 19th-century commerce to technical innovations. Bronze sculptures depict the activities of Simplex Wire and Cable. A fog fountain evokes the salt marsh. Cast bronze oyster shells recall the banks discovered during excavation. A memorial to Necco Wafers stands near the old factory.
University Park Common. More than a park it is a testament. A testament to the transformation of a place. A place that blends its industrial past with its vibrant present. A place where history and community converge. A place that invites you to explore. To relax. To reflect on its rich and multifaceted past.