Over the past several years, Moakley Park has been steadily transforming into something more than just a large green space on the South Boston waterfront. Thanks to the collective efforts of local nonprofits, artists, neighbors, youth organizations, and public agencies, it’s becoming a thriving, welcoming place where community, creativity, and stewardship come together.
Boston Harbor Now is proud to be one part of this larger collaboration. This summer, we’re deepening our work at Moakley Park and nearby Carson Beach through events, cleanups, public art, and youth engagement.
“What makes Moakley special is the way so many groups have come together to care for it, shape it, and make it welcoming to everyone,” says Jaye Meakem, Community Engagement Manager at Boston Harbor Now. “The groups and people involved in those efforts are not just hosting events, we’re building community, and that’s something you feel every time you’re here.”
(Photo: Nicole Loeb)
Cleanups That Go Deeper
Our monthly Moakley Park Cleanups do more than just tidy the grounds. Each cleanup includes debris tracking to help us better understand how the park is being used and what it needs. It’s one small but impactful way to ensure the park stays healthy and accessible for everyone. Join the next cleanup on Saturday, August 9.
Food, Basketball, and Big Summer Energy
Also on July 12, the court and field come alive with the Bumpin Burger and Basketball Sizzler, a celebration of summer featuring health resources, games, music, and free food. We’ll be there too, sharing ways to get involved in the park and meeting new neighbors. More on the Sizzler here.
(Photo: Vania Arroyo)
Southie Summer Nights
Every Wednesday from July 16 through August 20, Southie Summer Nights brings free community programming to either Carson Beach and Moakley Park, thanks to a collaboration between Boston Harbor Now, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and Mercy Robinson of South Boston en Acción. Expect food, games, art, music, and space to connect, whether you’re stopping by after work or bringing the kids to burn off some energy.
And mark your calendars for August 8, when the Carson Beach Community Kickback brings the season’s biggest waterfront celebration to the shoreline. Learn more here.
Sculptures That Tell a Story
This summer, artist Pamela Moulton (aka Posey) is teaming up with Boston Harbor Now and partners like South Boston en Acción to lead a collaborative public art project. Using salvaged fishing nets, ropes, and lightweight plastic debris, Posey will guide the creation of tactile, mythical sea creatures that will be temporarily installed on fencing throughout Moakley Park.
The creatures, haunting and whimsical, are part of Posey’s eco-mythology practice, designed to spark curiosity and invite conversations about climate, the ocean, and how we care for shared spaces. Workshops will be held during key summer events, including the July 12 Sizzler and the Southie Summer Nights series in August, with additional drop-in art-making sessions to come. The sculptures will be installed by late August.
Interns Who Care
Two local community engagement interns, Emilia and Kristina, are helping bring all this work to life. Each brings a personal connection to the park and the Harbor, and both are spending the summer talking to visitors, supporting events, and helping Moakley Park thrive.
“Some of my best memories are on the beach near Moakley, especially as a kid,” Emilia shares. “I want to help others feel that same connection to this space.”
“Growing up in Boston, I’ve always seen the Harbor as something powerful but distant,” says Kristina. “Working at Moakley is showing me how accessible the waterfront can be—and how much community power there is in making that happen.”
Whether you stop by to make art, shoot hoops, lend a hand at a cleanup, or just enjoy a summer sunset, we hope you’ll spend some time at Moakley Park this season. There’s something growing here—and it includes all of us.
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