WASHINGTON SQUARE
Haverhill, MA
Washington Square Plaza is located in the historic heart of downtown Haverhill, Massachusetts. One block away from the Merrimack River, the plaza is surrounded by a variety of repurposed mill buildings that were once home to Haverhill’s booming shoe and leather industry.
Ryan Associates was tasked with reimagining the plaza into a space for community events such as dancing, food festivals, and holiday tree lighting. The existing plaza consisted of a grove of mature honey locust trees above a hardscape of uneven brick and cobblestone paving. Our design intervention aimed to preserve these trees through the use of expanded planting beds. These beds, along with supplementary new trees and other plantings, also created a sense of separation between the plaza and the busy surrounding streets. New reclaimed granite blocks serve as casual benches and the existing memorial is restored.
While this project remains unrealized, it serves as an example for how a dilapidated urban square can be revitalized while maintaining a mature tree canopy.
Photos from: Senter Digital Archive of Haverhill Public Library, John Toivola, and Tichnor Brothers Inc.