Mayor Thomas Menino and Boston officials are holding a ceremony on Wednesday at 2 p.m. to mark the reopening of the newly renovated Boston Common Visitor Information Center, according to an Oct. 11 press release.
Menino will gather with officials from the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, Boston Public Facilities Department and the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau at 139 Tremont St. to celebrate the reopening.
The celebration is expected to include costumed colonial characters provided by the Freedom Trail Foundation, as well as a fife player and a drummer co-sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events.
The celebration marks the completion of the $900,000 renovation project, which was managed by Boston Property & Construction Management Department’s Capital Construction Division. The press release reported that $100,000 went to design costs and $800,000 to the construction budget, which was funded by the mayor’s Capital Improvement Program.
“This special partnership with Mayor Menino and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department has paid huge dividends for Boston’s visitor industry,” said Patrick Moscaritolo, president and chief-executive officer of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, in the press release.
“Extra visitor spending occurs because of this Center and benefits the thousands of people who work in our industry and for that we are extremely grateful to Mayor Menino, Commissioner [Antonia] Pollak, and the great collaboration we have with the Mayor’s team.”
Renovations include slate repairs, stucco repairs and exterior paint. The project also added a new vestibule under the front portico, as well as a clock, beam and thermal adjustments in the visitors lobby. The public bathrooms have been renovated with phenolic partitions, stainless steel accessories and a refurbished terrazzo floor. A new fire alarm system and holiday lighting infrastructure were also added.
The Visitor Information Center, which the mayor said he considers a hub of activity for local organizations, reportedly receives visits between 3,500 and 5,000 guests per day during the peak summer months and 1,000 a day over the winter.
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