Quincy’s new Hancock Adams Common, designed by landscape architects Halvorson Design with project manager Woodard & Curran, was honored with the 2018 Planning Project Award by the American Planning Association (APA) Massachusetts chapter. The APA MA Awards program recognizes outstanding projects, people and organizations, which have made “a significant contribution to the field of planning.”
Quincy’s new Hancock Adams Common (photo by Ed Wonsek)
This long-awaited open space—the culmination of a series of transformative public projects spanning the past decade—sets the stage for future development and investment in downtown Quincy.
View of Hancock Adams Common from President’s Place (photo by Ed Wonsek)
Years of planning by the Quincy Planning Department, the Mayor’s Office, and the design team resulted in a visionary plan to reroute traffic around the city center in order to create an attractive and welcoming new civic common featuring a tree-lined pedestrian promenade, green space, and granite plaza, which links together three of downtown Quincy’s most iconic historical landmarks: Old City Hall, Hancock Cemetery, and the United First Parish Church.
View of Hancock Adams Common from Quincy Cemter MB(photo by Ed Wonsek)
Serving as the new “front yard” for downtown Quincy, Hancock Adams Common creates a seamless pedestrian experience, directly connecting the Quincy Center MBTA station with historic landmarks, public facilities, local businesses, and multifamily residential developments.
Pedestrian promenade at Hancock Adams Common (photo by Ed Wonsek)
One of may seating areas in Hancock Adams Common (photo by Ed Wonsek)
A vibrant destination in its own right, the three-acre Common offers flexibility for a range of programming opportunities and features two fountains, interpretive design elements and sculptures, ornamental plantings, large lawn areas and hardscape plaza spaces suitable for hosting public events. The Commons’ monumental 2,500-square-foot “tidal” fountain serves as a major draw, with its granite surface that recalls the city’s 26 miles of coastal shoreline and more than 200 jets, which are able to spray recirculating water up to 12’ in the air.
Tidal fountain at Hancock Adams Common (photo by Ed Wonsek)
Fountain at Hancock Adams Common (photo by Ed Wonsek)
In addition to honoring the past, Hancock Adams Common firmly plants itself in the present day and future of the city. This multi-phased, multi-effort park project and associated streetscape significantly improves circulation, incorporating bike lanes, raised crosswalks with high-intensity activated crosswalk beacons, elevated tree planters, and other components demonstrating complete streets concepts.
View of John Adams statue at Hancock Adams Common (photo by Ed Wonsek)
Mayor Thomas Koch sees Hancock Adams Common as an integral step in transforming downtown Quincy from a nine-to-five shopping district into a thriving 24/7 neighborhood. By providing a welcoming space for public engagement, cultural interpretation, and celebration and a “postcard setting for tourists,” Hancock Adams Common puts the city well on its way to creating “A New Quincy.”
Evening view of Hancock Adams Common (photo by Ed Wonsek)