The Greenway Conservancy’s commitment to the disability community

As stewards of the park that bears the name of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, we honor the values of inclusivity, accessibility, and shared community. 

Much has been said about our recent decision to change the vendor responsible for a nine-person crew to maintain the cleanliness of the park. After a thoughtful procurement process, we awarded the contract to a well-known firm with strong local experience, Block by Block (BBB). In this process (detailed in our recent message), we were impressed with BBB’s record of superior performance, strong references, and local partnership with Project Place, a nonprofit that provides employment opportunities for homeless and low-income individuals. We are working on a memorandum of understanding that extends BBB’s partnerships to include nonprofit organizations within the disability community. 

BBB, immediately after being awarded the contract, reached out to WORK Inc. about employing the individuals who had worked on The Greenway but was told by WORK Inc. that their Greenway staff would be placed elsewhere – it was our full expectation that no one would be unemployed. If, despite these assurances, anyone with a disability from WORK Inc.’s Greenway team is without a job now, please reach out immediately ([email protected]) so we can connect you with BBB for employment.

The Rose Kennedy Greenway and the Conservancy have a history and emphasis on accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The park was designed and built not only for complete wheelchair access, but with broader accessibility in mind in terms of surfaces and features. We have worked with multiple nonprofits serving people with disabilities for programs and events in the park. For the Greenway Carousel, the Conservancy’s largest park improvement project, we put accessibility at the forefront of design through a partnership with the Institute for Human Centered Design; the Carousel is one of the most accessible carousels in New England, going well beyond wheelchair accessibility to incorporate unique and important features for people with physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities. 

We will continue to deliver an outstanding park for all, while working closely with nonprofits throughout our community. 

Thank you for your support for our work,

James M. Kalustian
Board Chair, on behalf of the Board of Directors
Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy

Jesse Brackenbury
Executive Director
Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy