Project name: The Dewitt Playground P.L.A.Y. (Play Learn Athlete Youth) public art installation reimagines Madison Park/Dewitt Playground as a resilient community space that promotes intergenerational engagement, celebrates heritage, and fosters health and wellness through play. Anchored by the basketball courts, the project introduces three installations: sideline artwork, shaded canopies, and the Mirror of History that activate the space for players and spectators alike.
Guided by the African philosophy of Ubuntu, meaning “I am because we are,” the design process affirmed shared responsibility and community stewardship. Developed collaboratively among the artist, architects, and local residents, the project balanced artistic vision with public feedback to ensure inclusivity and resonance. Priorities included safety, durability, and accessibility, alongside navigating permissions for the historical images featured in the Mirror of History mural fence.
Completed in 2025, the revitalization delivers a layered experience. Vibrant Agora23 graphics frame the sidelines with energy and identity. Canopies provide much-needed shade and rest areas, while the Mirror of History reuses the existing foundation to introduce a new fence displaying images of local and national leaders. Reflective panels invite visitors to see themselves as part of this legacy, bridging past, present, and future.
The outcome demonstrates design’s capacity to uplift and reconnect. By honoring Roxbury’s cultural identity while promoting education, inclusion, and unity, the Dewitt Playground project establishes a model for transforming public space into a platform for growth, reflection, and shared pride.
Project location: Boston, Massachusetts
Firm name: Studio Luz Architects with Artist Marlon Forrester
Associated Firm: Bauhaus Group LLC
Completion: 2024
Client: City of Boston – Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture | Boston Arts Commission
Jury comments: An elegant translation of the community engagement process. Dewitt Playground transforms Boston’s Madison Park courts into a vibrant, accessible hub, integrating art, play, and history. Community-driven elements like the Mirror of History mural and sideline artwork foster connection, cultural pride, and social engagement. The flat canopy elevation with its angled piece is subtle and studied, though its shading function is slightly limited. Overall, a wonderful project with great story, research, and visual use of community voices, exemplifying equitable and innovative design.
Images/Photographer: Jane Messinger General Contractor: BRM Production Management Structural: SGH
