The project: The Boston Public Facilities Department and the Boston Center for Youth and Families commissioned IMEG to first conduct a master plan study and then oversee the design and construction of a new outdoor space behind the Tobin Community Center in Roxbury, MA.

The goal: The primary goal was to increase the diversity of outdoor programs for all ages within the Roxbury community by transforming an overgrown backyard into flexible, vibrant, and easily maintainable spaces for recreation, education, and social gatherings

The design: Through a community-driven master planning process, the project shaped a vision for “The Yard,” featuring a community garden, a stage and pavilion with a lawn gathering space, an outdoor dining area with café and picnic tables, and a shaded outdoor classroom adjacent to the Tobin School. Bold, colorful signage and a custom “garden tools” themed gateway highlight the entrance. The custom pavilion, with a colorful translucent polycarbonate roof, anchors the assembly lawn made of natural-looking synthetic turf. Ambient LED festoon lighting adds a festive atmosphere. Outdoor dining and grilling areas incorporate fixed and movable furniture beneath mature trees, while a birch grove and woodland plantings provide a cool, shaded outdoor classroom. Hexagonal permeable pavers connect the spaces with the durability and appearance of granite.

The outcome: “The Yard” has successfully reimagined the outdoor space into a dynamic, welcoming, and adaptable community asset. It now supports a wide variety of activities across generations, enhances the neighborhood’s outdoor amenities, and presents a bold, fresh identity behind the Tobin Community Center.