Privately Owned Public Spaces in the Kendall Square MXD District
Privately Owned Public Spaces (sometimes referred to as POPS) are a type of land area that while privately owned, have been set aside for public benefit through land-use restriction, development agreements or zoning requirements.
To more widely inform Cambridge residents and visitors of the Privately Owned Public Spaces set aside for their benefit, the CRA partnered with the City of Cambridge to develop POPS signage. Additionally, the CRA details their locations, ownership, hours of operation, amenities, accessibility, and legal protection status in the MXD district of the Kendall Square Urban Redevelopment Area.
The map on the right numbers the protected spaces and easements in the MXD district. Additional information about each space including legal protections is provided below.
For more information on privately owned but publicly beneficial spaces in other Cambridge neighborhoods, visit Cambridge's CDD website.
POPS SIGNAGE
The Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA) and the City of Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD) are excited to introduce the Privately-Owned Public Spaces (POPS) logo.
The signage was created to make POPS spaces more known, equitable, and welcoming to all. It will help clarify the role of POPS to the public through clear and consistent branding and messaging and provide a visual cue that a POPS area is available to the public for their use. Providing clear, visible, and readable signage that includes information about the space (such as access hours, amenities, and accessibility to persons with disabilities) will make POPS more equitable and inclusive for all.
The First POPS logo was officially implemented in the 325 Main Street development in the Summer of 2022.
A POPS signage guidelines was created to provide direction for creating effective and informative POPS signage. The Graphic Composition includes an easy-to-use style guide outlining the brand identity, typefaces, color palette, and examples of the designed elements. The implementation guide consists of guidance on POPS signage as a new standalone sign or addition to an existing sign, as well as placement and materiality of the sign.
-
The POPS Signage Guidelines were completed to provide direction for creating effective and informative POPS signage. The guidelines will be updated as needed.
An Adobe Illustrator working file can be downloaded (.zip file)
POPS LOCATIONS in the Kendall Square MXD District
#1 Galaxy Park
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 1 hour after sunrise and before sunset.
Owner: The CRA and Boston Properties
Maintenance By: Boston Properties
Amenities: 7 curved benches, water fountain
Vegetation: 20 medium trees
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 8,877 square feet
Open Space Covenant: In perpetuity as per the Maintenance and Easement agreement between the CRA and Boston Properties
#2 Kendall Square Plaza
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 1 hour after sunrise and before sunset.
Owner and Maintenance By: Boston Properties
Amenities: 25 benches, Adirondack chairs, events and programming including live music and a seasonal farmers market
Vegetation: 8 medium trees
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 14,372 square feet (map)
Open Space Covenant: Exp. Aug. 30th, 2112
#3 Marriott Pedestrian Easement
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m
Owner: Boston Properties
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 7,384 square feet, and at a minimum width of 5 feet. (map)
Open Space Covenant: In perpetuity
#4 UP (Urban Park) Roof Garden
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 1 hour after sunrise and before sunset.
Owner and Maintenance By: Boston Properties
Amenities: chairs, dining tables, seasonal events and programming including yoga and exercise classes
Vegetation: small trees, shrubs, produce garden
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 25,340 square feet (map)
Open Space Covenant: 2016 CRA Covenant Exp. June 30th, 2115. Covenant with the City of Cambridge Exp. Aug. 5th, 2050
#5 325 + 355 Main Street Connector Easement
Hours: Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Owner and Maintenance By: Boston Properties
Amenities: Public tables and seating and access to cafes and restaurants and parking garage.
Vegetation: n/a
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 1,410 square feet (map)
Access Easement: In perpetuity - Current Easement & Original Easement
#6 Pioneer Way Easement
Hours: Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Owner and Maintenance By: Boston Properties
Amenities: Public tables and seating and access to cafes, restaurants and parking garage.
Vegetation: n/a
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 12,623 square feet (map)
Access Easement: In perpetuity - West Easement & East Easement
#7 88 Ames Open Space
Hours: Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Owner and Maintenance By: Boston Properties
Vegetation: 13 small trees
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 8,445 square feet (map)
Open Space Covenant: In perpetuity
#8 Broad Pocket Park
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 1 hour after sunrise and before sunset.
Owner and Maintenance By: MIT
Amenities: 3 benches
Vegetation: 4 small and 8 large trees
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 5,022 square feet (map)
Open Space Covenant: Exp. April 15th, 2045
#9 Whitehead Plaza
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 1 hour after sunrise and before sunset.
Owner and Maintenance By: Whitehead Institute
Amenities: 4 picnic tables & 6 granite block benches
Vegetation: 5 small and 10 large trees
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 10,930 square feet (map)
Open Space Covenant: Exp. Sept. 25th, 2029
#10 Grand Junction Park Easement
Hours: Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Owner: MIT with an easement held by the CRA
Maintenance: CRA
Amenities: Multi-use bike and pedestrian path
Vegetation: 9 small and 9 large trees
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 9,846 square feet (map)
Open Space Covenant: In perpetuity
#11 75 Ames Open Space
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 1 hour after sunrise and before sunset.
Owner and Maintenance By: Boston Properties
Amenities: none
Vegetation: 3 medium trees
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 6,867 square feet (map)
Open Space Covenant: Exp. May 23rd, 2051
#12 Danny Lewin Park
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 1 hour after sunrise and before sunset.
Owner: Boston Properties and Xenia Hotels D.B.A Residence Inn
Maintenance By: Boston Properties
Amenities: 14 benches
Vegetation:14 large trees
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 18,941 square feet (map)
Open Space Covenant: Western and Central part of the park Exp. March 10th, 2081, East side of the park Exp. October 29th, 2037
#13 Center Plaza: Proposed
Hours: N/A
Owner and Maintenance By: Boston Properties
Amenities: N/A
Vegetation: N/A
Handicap Accessible: N/A
Area: 28,455 square feet (map)
Open Space Covenant: Exp. March 19th, 2080
#14 Galileo Galilei Way to Blue Garage Easement
Hours: Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Owner and Maintenance By: Boston Properties
Amenities: Under construction
Vegetation: Under construction
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 2,526 square feet (map)
Open Space Covenant: In perpetuity
#15 Binney to Broadway Easements
Hours: Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Owner and Maintenance By: Boston Properties
Amenities: none
Vegetation: none
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 9,875 square feet (map)
Access Easement: In perpetuity
#16 Loughrey Walkway to Blue Garage Easement
Hours: Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Owner and Maintenance By: Boston Properties
Amenities: none
Vegetation: 8 small trees
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 6,374 square feet (map)
Open Space Covenant: In perpetuity
#17* Binney Street Park (The Porkchop)
*Binney Street Park is not a Privately Owned Open Space (POPS) as it is publicly owned, but it has open space restrictions.
Hours: Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Owner and Maintenance By: The City of Cambridge
Amenities: none
Vegetation: 23 large trees - Including one mature Cottonwood Tree
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Area: 50,061 square feet (map)
Open Space Covenant: Exp. March 1st, 2058