Danny Lewin Park
Danny Lewin Park is a privately-owned open space in Kendall Square’s MXD District, controlled by BXP and Residence Inn. The park is dedicated to Akamai’s co-founder, Daniel Lewin. The CRA faciliated the concept plan for the park redesign. The redesigned space is shaped around community needs—offering an accessible lawn, a cozy garden nook for quiet moments, and a welcoming seating area with communal tables where residents can gather, share meals, and connect. BXP and Turner collaborated with Brightview to implement the project under a design-build agreement. During the reconstruction of the park, CRA staff reviewed the construction to enhance landscaping increase tree preservation and reduce project expenses. In addition to realizing cost savings, the oversight facilitated the repurposing of existing park benches, which were donated to various organizations and businesses in Cambridge. Ultimately, the total cost for Danny Lewin Park amounted to approximately $1,820,000, which was in line with the original estimate of $2,000,000, despite inflationary pressures. Danny Lewin Park’s grand reopening ribbon cutting was held in October. The event marked a significant milestone, culminating years of planning, design, and construction aimed at renewing this important community space. The park is dedicated to Akamai’s co-founder, Daniel Lewin, who lost his life on Flight 11 that crashed into the World Trade Center on 9/11. Click here to learn more about Mr. Lewin.
In 2018, the CRA’s undertook a collaborative landscape redesign for the open space off Ames Place, including Danny Lewin Park and The Broad Pocket Park. See Ames Place Open Space project extent in the map to the right. During the Ames Place Open Space process, the CRA worked with Mikyoung Kim Associates and Nitsch Engineering, and met with individual stakeholders, the City, and held public CRA Design Review committee and community meetings to gather input and discuss designs. Final concept designs were completed in 2020, see Ames Place Open Space Concept Designs here.
In 2021, Residence Inn raised the idea of construction a patio space in their portion of Danny Lewin Park. That same year, as part of the MXD Substation Redevelopment Project, BXP agreed to provide funding for the design and reconstruction of their portion of Danny Lewin Park as part of their project’s public benefits.
In 2022, to facilitate a cohesive design of the park with BXP and Residence Inn, the CRA rehired Mikyoung Kim Associates, to assist in updated Danny Lewin Park concept designs. After a number of public design review conversations, and a community meeting, the CRA Board voted to approve the final Park Concept Designs in June of 2022. Construction is expected to start in spring of 2023.
Danny Lewin Park Design Goals
Through the Ames Place Open Space design process, and CDD’s and CRA’s Privately Owned Open Space survey work which included Danny Lewin Park (see below for more information), the design team established the following goals:
Increase porosity of the park
Conserve and enhance greenery
Preserve Danny Lewin's memorial tree
Increase seating and lounging options
Activate and provide space for activities
Maintain the tranquil character of the park
-
Project Partners:
BXP
Landscape Architects:
Mikyoung Kim Associates and Brightview
General Contractor:
Brightview
Funding Partners:
BXP
Year Started:
2022
Falls under
POPS -
Joel Smith, ext 14, jsmith@cambridgeredevelopment.org
This Project In the News
Rendering of Danny Lewin Park Design Concepts
Project Timeline & mEETING materials
June 8, 2022: CRA Board Approval
May 25, 2022: Danny Lewin Park Community Meeting
May 4, 2022: Mikyoung Kim Schematic Design Presented to the CRA Design Review Committee
February 2, 2022: CRA enters into a Notice to Proceed with Mikyoung Kim Design to assist with Danny Lewin Park design concepts
December 15, 2021: CRA Board votes to approve the 2021 Amendment to Development Agreement with BXP, as part of the MXD Substation Redevelopment project. In this agreement, BXP agrees to pay for the design and reconstruction of their portion of Danny Lewin Park, not to exceed $1,200,000.
November 17, 2021: Residence Inn presents their Patio Design Proposal to CRA Board. CRA Board requests a more comprehensive Danny Lewin Park design be considered in collaboration with BXP.
October 13, 2021: Residence Inn presents their Patio Design Proposal to the CRA Design Review Committee