The redevelopment of the Circle Cinema site is a golden, once-in-a-century opportunity to reinvigorate Cleveland Circle and broaden the enjoyment of Cassidy Playground.
Do you have any suggestions?
Send them along to
ideas@clevelandcircle.org
and we'll get them to people that are working to make it happen.
Cassidy Playground. In 1898 the City of Boston built a playground on the land southeast of Beacon Street, adjacent to the Pumping Station complex. It was later named the Walter F. Cassidy Playground after a Second World War serviceman.
Cleveland Circle. Mr. McCabe of Wd. 25 offered an order that the open space at the junction of Chestnut Hill Ave., Beacon St., and Sutherland road, in Wd. 25 be named and hereafter known as Cleveland circle. Ordered. That the order approved by the Mayor April 17, 1907, naming Cleveland circle be and is hereby rescinded. Passed. Sent up. Approved by the Mayor, May 10, 1907.
Valedictory address of
Andrew J. Peters, Mayor of Boston
February 1, 1922
Another improvement of much importance and
of particular satisfaction from the fact that it
completes a scheme which was planned more than thirty years ago,
is the development of Cleveland
circle, at the head of Beacon street, near the Reservoir
in the Aberdeen section of Brighton.
Previous
efforts to carry this work through have been
retarded by a number of reasons, among which
was the fear that a number of fine trees and a
fountain would have to be destroyed. At my
suggestion this matter was taken up again, and
after a careful study of the problem by the engineers
of the Park Department and the Public Works
Department, a plan was worked out which saved
all but two of the trees, those saved being the best
ones. It was planned that additional trees should
be planted in the circle this spring.
In connection with this development, and as a
part of it, Chestnut Hill avenue, between the Brookline
line and Commonwealth avenue, has been
widened; here again a number of trees which it
was feared would have to be destroyed have been
saved by the skillful planning of the engineers.
On the park bordering Chestnut Hill avenue a
wall has been built which, I am informed by the
landscape architects, is one of the most attractive
of its kind to be found anywhere.
I am speaking at some length of the Cleveland
circle improvement because it is an example of
development which not only is of artistic value,
but also contributes specifically to the increased
safety of the public. The widening of Chestnut
Hill avenue has removed a dangerous spot where
automobile collisions were of rather frequent occurrence.
The avenue was formerly 60 feet wide
with a double line of car tracks laid on one side of
the roadway. It is now 80 feet wide. This is a
heavy traffic point. This traffic formerly used
but one side of the roadway and it was forced to
meet on the wrong' side of the road traffic which
was passing through from Beacon street westerly.
Under the new plan the tracks are in the center of
the avenue, leaving plenty of room for traffic. This
should materially reduce the number of accidents
at this point.
Thus we have perfected what is probably the
most attractive approach to the City of Boston
over the highways. Most of the overland tourists
to and from New York and the West follow this
route.