History of Ringgold Park

The founding members of the Friends of Ringgold Park mobilized in the early 1990s. Back then, the park was a much different place than you see today. A full basketball court, depressed 30 inches lower than the current half court, dominated the park. A 10-foot high chain-link fence surrounded rusting, unsafe playground equipment. The Ringgold Street entryway was flanked by uninviting, high concrete walls. Finally, a barren area strewn with the remnants of several picnic tables and a former exercise trail punctuated what was Ringgold Park.

In August 1994, the shooting of a 15 year-old youth in the park served as the catalyst to focus grave concerns over the lack of a diverse program in the park, the safety of the aging playground equipment, and the lack of a community gathering space. While the young boy survived, this incident fostered a committed, community effort to solicit from the City of Boston the funds necessary for a redesign of the park, which eventually led to the organizing of the Friends of Ringgold Park. Through these efforts, by 1996, the park was renovated to become the much safer park you see today.

To start the process of creating a park for all, a group of concerned neighbors worked diligently for the benefit of the community by forming the Ringgold Park Survey Committee. This committee collected information from adjacent neighborhood groups to decide what should be included in the new design. Once the park was programmed, these same neighbors then formed the Ringgold Park Design Committee to work closely with the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. Their efforts guided the design process and presented actual designs by some of the neighbors who included architects and landscape architects. After their instrumental involvement in future direction of the park and implementation, these committed neighbors formed the Friends of Ringgold Park. They guided the future of the park by holding monthly meetings, organizing fundraisers, running clean ups, and establishing the first of many Halloween and Easter celebrations.

In 2004, the Friends of Ringgold Park went from a group of dedicated neighbors to a registered nonprofit organization with the goal of continuing improvements to the park and shepherding its necessary maintenance. In pursuit of this goal, the Friends have been extremely busy. A successful fundraising event in May 2006, along with privately-raised funds, has enabled the Friends to install an irrigation system to support new landscaping and hire Copley Wolff Design Group to renovate the center circle of the park.

We hope by spring of 2011 this history will include the new, interactive, community-focused renovation of the center circle and tot lots!