I Walked Boston’s Post Office Square

Post Office Square, which is home to some 100+ varieties of trees and flower, is also sometimes referred to as the Norman B. Leventhal Park after a former building development within the area. This area was formerly where many manufacturers of rope for ships and such resided in the 1700s. After a fire wiped out those factories, the area was residing for a period of time featuring large stately homes. Unfortunately, a “second” fire (Great Fire of 1872) wiped out these homes and the area underwent a further revitalization. The surrounding streets were all widened and the space left was this small triangular traffic island outside of the former Post Office (now the site of the John W. McCormack Court House). The park was formally opened to the public in 1874.

The park today is 1.7 acres of lush green space that is often frequented by local business men and women during lunch time. To encourage such behavior the city, even provides cushions for free use within the park for each of its visitors to lounge on the grass without soiling their formal attire. Ironically, despite a reluctance to offer this service for fear of the cushions “growing legs,” the city claims that not a single cushion has been stolen to date.

Post Office Square

A further piece of irony surrounding this park is that hidden beneath all of this serenity is that a parking garage resides directly underneath. This has lent itself to the park’s slogan, “Park above, park below.”

Post Office Square is probably best recognized for its long garden trellis which flows through the center area of the park. This 143’ long trellis, which is covered with 7 species of vines, cover a narrow walking path which visitors may follow from one end of the park to the other.

• Website: http://www.normanbleventhalpark.org/history.html
• Address: Post Office Square, Boston, MA (Approximate intersection of Milk Street and Pearl Street)
• Cost: Free