Nonquit Street Land Trust (NSLT) was developed in 1991 though the voluntary grassroots efforts of local residents led by community activist Ruth Clarke to address the bleak conditions of both Nonquit Street and Upham’s Corner in the northern section of Dorchester, an area with high poverty and crime rates. The volunteers organized clean-ups of local properties and persuaded property owners to make specific improvements and security enhancements. They transformed two desolate spaces at opposite ends of a 400-ft. cul-de-sac street into the Nonquit Street Green and the Garden Wildlife Habitat, connected by flowering trees and plants along the way.
The Nonquit Street Green officially opened to residents in 2002. The approximately 12,000 square foot park features large, stately trees, a mini-arboretum and children’s sculpture garden, family picnic area with tables and barbecues, a cooling mister for hot summer days, a La Casita maintenance shed, and a custom-designed wrought iron fence.
When the park opened in 2002, NSLT had just fundraised for the park and installation of Nancy Schon’s “A Dragon for Dorchester” sculpture, a fun and playful sculpture located near the entrance of the park. NSLT had always planned to install a second sculpture to be put in the misting area of the park. An outline of a green boat in a blue sea was constructed in anticipation of having “The Owl and the Pussy Cat” sculpture sailing away in the mist. However, the second sculpture was put on hold for financial reasons.
In 2018, a newly revitalized Board led by Ruth Clarke developed a capital campaign to finish the children’s sculpture garden with the instillation of “The Owl and the Pussy Cat” sculpture . Once the campaign was finished, the Board voted to divest itself and hand over control of the Nonquit Street Green to the City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department (BPRD) to conserve resources.
Partnering with the Lynch Foundation
In 2002, The Lynch Foundation provided a $25,000 grant for NSLT, followed by a $50,000 challenge grant in 2003 if they could raise the final $5,000 from the community to finish the campaign. The challenge encouraged local engagement and created community pride. The fundraising process and engagement of the community was just as critical to the transformation and revitalization of the Upham’s Corner neighborhood as the park itself.
In addition to the early funding for the campaign, the Foundation worked with Ruth Clarke to ease the transition of the Park to City ownership.
In spring of, 2021, the Foundation provided a final $71,000 grant to finish renovations and complete “The Owl and the Pussycat”, which was installed in August 2021.