Charlesbank Campus

• How This Project Enhances Our Mission
• Funding and Support to Date
• Commonwealth and Community Engagement
• Project Background: Press and Site History

Construction and Operations Updates

We will update construction progress quarterly, but you can check for monthly updates here!

Structural Steel is in!

Exciting advancements are being made towards the opening of our Smith Family Pavilion and Charlesbank Campus! Our contractor, Lee Kennedy Co., has been hard at work on site. As the steel framework is set, the skeleton of the project is becoming more visible, with the outlines of our deck, downstairs community room, and restrooms slowly coming into view.

Check out their updates as Charlesbank on the Esplanade comes to life!

A Historic Day on the Esplanade: Charlesbank Groundbreaking

On May 13, 2025, the Esplanade Association and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation officially broke ground on the new Smith Family Pavilion at Charlesbank, launching a bold new chapter for Boston’s iconic riverfront park.

Held at the future site along 280 Charles Street, the celebration brought together Commonwealth and City leadership, community partners, funders, and supporters. Guests gathered to mark this long-awaited milestone with remarks and the ceremonial first dig into what will become a vibrant, universally accessible two-acre campus.

The event commemorated nearly 25 years of public-private partnership and set in motion the most ambitious project in Esplanade Association history — a space designed for year-round recreation, education, connection, and discovery.

For more information check out our press release and photos for the event!

Community Pre-Construction Meeting April 2nd

Thank you to those who joined us for the community meeting on 4/2 to discuss construction plans for the Esplanade’s first year-round visitors center at Charlesbank, expected to break ground this spring. At the meeting, we reviewed the project schedule and shared how park visitor access will be maintained during construction.

If you missed the meeting you can watch here!

Follow Construction Progress Toward 2026 Opening

Construction contractor Lee Kennedy Company invites the community to follow developments of the project progress with their three-week lookaheads, aerial views, and site visualizations at this link. Contact information is always available on the project web page and on the construction site. 

Charlesbank Approved and Promoted by Boston Office of Historic Preservation

The Boston Office of Historic Preservation recently published a page on Charlesbank to their site, Enhancing A Boston Landmark: Charlesbank and the Smith Family Pavilion at the Charles River Esplanade, featuring a historical overview as well as information about the community process to get the project approved. 

Since being founded in 2001, the Esplanade Association (EA) has been committed to “making life better on the Esplanade for all.” Opening in 2026, the Charlesbank campus and new Smith Family Pavilion will transform an area of the park that has been largely closed off to the public since the 1990s into a welcoming destination, providing space for a wide variety of uses for visitors. In the summer of 2022, legislation was passed and signed by the Governor, creating the opportunity for the Esplanade Association to activate a neglected, but invaluable, 2-acre site in the park.    

The project will support community needs with the creation of a new, year–round, universally accessible space for the Esplanade and includes numerous indoor and outdoor spaces designed for recreational, civic, artistic, educational, and cultural activities. It will provide wide-ranging environmental improvements focused on climate change mitigation and sustainable practices.  

The Esplanade Association is responsible for funding the project and managing the operation of Charlesbank over the next several decades. The total value of this gift will exceed $20M and represents one of the largest gifts to the Commonwealth’s state park system in history.  

All renderings are created by Maryann Thompson Architects.

How this project will enhance our mission  

Where will it be on the Esplanade?

Created by Maryann Thompson Architects, updated August 10, 2023

Charlesbank on the Esplanade will be located at the former site of Lee Pool, in between the Longfellow Bridge and Museum of Science, and adjacent to the Teddy Ebersol’s Red Sox Fields, Alfond Memorial Spray Deck, and the Gronk Playground.

Created by Maryann Thompson Architects, updated July 2025

Charlesbank will provide all-season park amenities for civic, educational, cultural, and other connective uses, including new landscape areas, community rooms, informational displays, Wi-Fi, light café fare, and multiple universal restrooms.

What can I do there? 

Created by Maryann Thompson Architects, updated November, 2024

VISITOR EXPERIENCE IMPROVEMENTS

• Universally-accessible building featuring a staffed Welcome Desk, and information about the park and its programs presented in multiple languages.
• Public bathrooms (open year-round).
• Café with indoor and outdoor seating.
• Roof deck providing unique views of the Charles River.
• Free public Wifi.
• Outdoor nature play area and new green space.
• Multi-purpose sports courts.
• Classrooms/community meeting spaces on two floors.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

• LEED®-certifiable, energy-efficient, and sustainably managed building.
• Solar panels as a primary energy source.
• Nearly 2 acres of landscape improvements including a bioretention rain garden and dozens of new trees.
• Rain barrel to conserve water for efficient care of landscape.
• Plantings integrated into wall and deck to green the building.
• State-of-the-art stormwater management system.
• Green transportation improvements including new pathway connections and bike racks.

Created by Maryann Thompson Architects, updated July 2025

Created by Maryann Thompson Architects, updated July 2025

RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

• Landscape elements that promote natural terrain, self-exploration, and discovery.
• Programmable event lawn for active and passive recreation.
• Multi-purpose sport courts that can accommodate basketball, tennis, and more.
• New lighting, benches, and views of the river and city.
• Gathering spots including grassy areas, café seating, and an all-weather covered plaza.
• Arts amenities including a mural wall, sculpture bed, and outdoor stage.

ENHANCED PARK CARE AND PROGRAMMING

• New indoor and outdoor areas supporting year-round inclusive programming.
• Community space for civic, artistic, educational, and cultural programs.
• Opportunities to partner with and engage the arts community of Boston and beyond to share their missions and vision with new audiences, who can simultaneously enjoy how greenspace and bluespace benefit our collective physical, mental, and social health.
• Park operation facilities to enhance the care of trees, gardens, playgrounds, pathways, and open spaces across the Esplanade.
• Staff presence to maximize operational outcomes, promote a safe environment, and support a vibrant mixed-use facility.

Created by Maryann Thompson Architects, updated July 2025

FUNDING AND SUPPORT TO DATE

The Esplanade Association’s more than $20M financial commitment to Charlesbank includes not only the planning and construction of a new, year-round, universally-accessible visitors center and campus, but also at least 30 years of the entire site’s operations and maintenance costs.  The public benefits of this investment include: year-round community access to a 9,000 square foot, energy-efficient, multiuse building, operations of a horticulture work yard to maintain the Esplanade’s entire 64 acres, and new amenities for welcome and wellness as well as free cultural, recreational and educational programming.  

Thank You to Key Supporters

This project has been made possible by many individuals and foundations including leadership support from the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation (SFF), the Conine Family Foundation, Bob and Happy Doran, Tom Brady Family Foundation, the Abrams Foundation, and more.  

See announcements of Smith Family Foundation and Tom Brady Family support here!

See complete list of donors here.

Created by Maryann Thompson Architects, updated July 2025

How will this happen? 

Charlesbank is no longer just a vision; it is now an inevitable part of the future of the Esplanade. More support is needed to meet the costs of construction and sustain ongoing maintenance and operations of this once-in-a-generation opportunity to “make life better on the Esplanade for all.” 

To become part of this undertaking and help transform the park, unlike ever before, please contact Jim Diverio, Director of Development at jdiverio@esplanade.org or by phone at 617-837-2870.

For more information regarding direct support and naming opportunities, please visit esplanade.org/charlesbank-booklet.

COMMONWEALTH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Community Meetings

Our team along with the Department of Conservation and Recreation have prioritized public input throughout the design process of the building. EA has hosted two Community Meetings to hear from the community about thoughts on design, as well as update community members the project status and timeline: June 20, 2024 and June 22, 2023.

You can learn more about each meeting here as well as find translated materials and video recordings of the meetings.

Partner Organizations

To date, 30 organizations have endorsed the project and its accompanying legislation, signifying a diverse group of stakeholders in the future vibrancy of Charlesbank on the Esplanade.

Additionally, Charlesbank is endorsed by Former City Councilor & Administrator of the Boston Housing Authority Kenzie Bok, State Senator William Brownsberger, State Senator Sal DiDomenico, City Councilor Sharon Durkan, State Senator Lydia Edwards, and State Representative Jay Livingstone.

If you’re interested in lending your voice on behalf of this project, please contact us at charlesbank@esplanade.org.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Project Background

Charlesbank on the Esplanade is the result of a decade-long effort by the Esplanade Association and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to establish an all-season, universally-accessible recreation destination at the long-neglected Lee Pool site on the Esplanade. A 2017 public process led by DCR uncovered community consensus goals for the project, which the Esplanade Association has carried forward with renowned local firms Maryann Thompson Architects (‘MTA’) and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (‘MVVA’) Landscape Architects. Since 2017, the Esplanade Association has engaged community-based stakeholder groups, incorporating hundreds of public comments into plans that achieve each of the consensus goals from the 2017 public process, and newly incorporate state-of-the-art best practices on inclusive design, climate change preparedness, and resiliency planning.  

Project Press Coverage

Enhancing a Boston Landmark: Charlesbank and the Smith Family Pavilion at the Charles River Esplanade: Boston Office of Historic Preservation

Public Gets a Look at Charlesbank Landing Project Proposed for the Esplanade: The Boston Sun

The Esplanade should get its makeover: The Boston Globe

Esplanade Association unveils makeover for key section near Museum of Science: The Boston Globe

Here’s how a $20M donation could change Boston’s Esplanade: Boston.com

Gift Of Over $20 Million For Boston’s Esplanade Would Fund New Visitors Center, Outdoor Spaces: WBZ | CBS Boston

Group pledges $20 million for new visitor center, other upgrades along the Charles near Mass General and new Gronk Playground: Universal Hub

Lease bill could unlock major Esplanade project: 7 News Boston

Bill Proposes Major Changes To Charles River Esplanade: WBZ News Radio

$20 Million Commitment from Esplanade Association Would Fund Major Improvements to Park: Beacon Hill Times

Lease Bill Could Unlock Major Esplanade Project: State House News Service

Bill Authorizing Long-Term Lease of Lee Pool Complex Filed: Beacon Hill Times

Early Site History

• 1892 Charlesbank plan, below, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to improve public health through open-air recreation
• 1950 Joseph Lee Pool Complex constructed by the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC)
• 1990s Joseph Lee Pool Complex closed to the public, subsequently used by DCR and EA for park operations and storage space until 2019

Recent Project History

• 2017 DCR public process with EA & Partners
• Held 3 public meetings and community design charrettes Engaged with over 25 community-based stakeholder groups Conducted numerous partner site walks and meetings
• 2019 Joseph Lee Pool Complex demolished by DCR, clearing the way for Charlesbank
• 2022 Charlesbank authorizing legislation passed, enabling a 30-year ground lease
• 2023 EA public process Convened community meeting in-person and on Zoom to review project progress Meetings continue with Community-Based Organizations Gathered public feedback at community events on and around the Esplanade
• 2023-2024 Project Permitting & Finalizing Documents July 17 2023, Began extensive state and local permitting processes, starting with review by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office (MEPA) Design & construction documents completed for the space Lease Signed

CONTACT US

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

If you are interested in financially supporting the project, please contact Jim Diverio at 617-837-2870 or jdiverio@esplanade.org

QUESTIONS

For any questions or comments about Charlesbank, please email us at info@esplanade.org.

Working in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

575 Boylston Street
Suite 4R
Boston, MA 02116
617-227-0365