The Boston Redevelopment Authority is seeking applications from various nonprofit organizations to work on beautification efforts related to the Fenway Park Demonstration Project.
“Boston is going through a very fortunate period of time due to our economy and interest that private developers have in our city,” said BRA spokesman Nick Martin. “We want to make sure that the benefits of development are being shared with the community. We’re thrilled to see that there’s such a high level of interest in being in Boston, but we’re also sensitive to the fact that large projects have a bit of a disruptive element to them.”
Beautification projects might refer to parks, open spaces or public art projects, Martin said.
Applications for nonprofits, released Tuesday, are required to submit a budget and plan to the BRA describing how the grant will be used “to deliver a service or project that contributes in a measurable way to the beautification of the Fenway community,” a Tuesday press release stated.
The program application is new and “allows a level of transparency and organization to the Community Benefit disbursement process,” Martin said.
The $200,000 comes as the first two of 10 payments from the Boston Red Sox to the BRA as a result of a development agreement that the two parties signed in 2013, the release stated.
In 2013, the BRA and Boston Red Sox approved the Fenway Park Demonstration Project, granting property use rights on Yawkey Way for game days and major events, the release stated. In return, the Red Sox will pay a total of $1,000,000 to the BRA until 2023 for beautification efforts.
Zineb Curran, a spokesman for the Red Sox, said the organization is very conscious of the effects of Fenway on the surrounding area.
“We are sensitive to the impact an urban ballpark can have on a residential area and are pleased a portion of the money the club is paying as part of its agreement with the BRA is designated to be used for the improvement and beautification of the Fenway neighborhood,” Curran wrote in an email.
Fenway is the second Boston neighborhood to engage in beautification efforts, according to the release. Earlier this year, South Boston held a pilot for the program and application process and collected $630,000 in grants.
Over two dozen nonprofits received grants based on their prior and continued involvement in the community. Recipients range from South Boston en Acción to South Boston Neighborhood House to Fort Point Arts Community, Martin said.
Several residents said they are interested to see a variety of changes in Fenway and South Boston in the coming years while others remain more than satisfied with their neighborhoods.
Fady Ghobrial, 25, of West End, said Bostonians want the city to be the best it can be.
“We love the city, we want our city to be the best city,” Ghobrial said. “Maybe [we could] add some rooftop gardens on top of buildings where nothing is going on there.”
Bradley Seeman, 60, of South End, also detailed some suggestions to improve the city.
“It would be great to see support for neighborhood youth organizations,” Seeman said. “Bike lanes would be great.”
Calder Pegden, 24, of Fenway, expressed content with the surrounding neighborhood of Fenway.
“I’m pretty happy with this area,” Pegden said. “But it’s hard [to think of improvements] because it’s already so nice.”
A previous version of this article stated that the BRA application will be to fund beautification efforts, but the nonprofits instead are receiving money already available for projects. The article now reflects this change.
