Ceremony will open new 18,000-square-foot public space on Monday, October 23

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, are inviting the community to celebrate the grand opening of Union Square Station Plaza, the first public space to open as part of the City’s Union Square Master Development Plan.

The ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. with remarks from Mayor Ballantyne, Ward 2 City Councilor J.T. Scott, and representatives from US2, the plaza’s lead developers. The ribbon cutting celebration will include refreshments from nearby Bloc Cafe and Union Square Donuts along with live entertainment. Following the ceremony, visitors are encouraged to explore the new public plaza.

“With its green spaces, welcoming seating areas, and interactive art installations, Union Square Station Plaza is a great new addition to a neighborhood that is a hub for creativity and community engagement,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “This project has been years in the making, and it would not have been possible without the vision and determination of our residents, local businesses, and US2. I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to bring the project from sketchbook to streetscape.”

The City of Somerville worked closely with the community and US2 to design Union Square Station Plaza to align with the city’s community-driven SomerVision and Union Square Master Redevelopment Plan goals.  

Design highlights include:

• Wide array of seating options, including both permanent concrete seat walls, seating platforms, and moveable tables and chairs.

• Enhanced green space for the neighborhood. Including over 3,000 new predominantly native plants and trees. 

• Sustainable technology to help the City achieve its ambitious sustainability goals. Over 70% of Station Plaza’s surface is pervious, allowing water to percolate into the soil to filter out pollutants and recharge the water table.

• Improved accessibility to the MBTA Union Square Station including walkways, stairs, and an elevator.

For more information about the ribbon cutting ceremony, please contact Cortney Kirk, Senior Planner for Urban Space and Forestry, by emailing ckirk@somervillema.gov or calling 617- 625-6600 x 2544