Cutillo Park

Vincent Cutillo Park, which was named to honor a veteran of World War I, has been a community center in the North End for a century, from its initial approval by the Boston City Council in 1920 (Boston City Archives, 1920), alongside efforts to expand streets throughout the North End (Boston Daily Globe, 1916), to its still-evolving state in the current day. The park was completed in the early 1920s, but its uses throughout history have been anything but static. Initially, the park was intended as a playground and used simultaneously as a location for community events like speeches and holiday celebrations. The community events documented in the Boston Globe possess a through-line of patriotism and the prioritization of activities intended for children, from an Independence Day address given by a local attorney alongside flag-raising and other festivities (Daily Boston Globe, 1929), to another Independence Day celebration two years later (Daily Boston Globe, 1931), to a costume parade held for local children (Daily Boston Globe, 1934). This park was seemingly popular among the young children that comprised nearly half of the block's population (Daily Boston Globe, 1916), facilitating events that helped to bring local people together.

Background Image Source: Friends of Cutillo Park, 1923

The history of Cutillo Park has not been entirely pleasant and smooth, however. It has undergone quite a few changes over time, and has also been defined by the urban re-development that has occurred around it, whether for good or ill. In the early 60s, one such dramatic change occurred: an ice skating rink was constructed within the park (Boston Globe, 1960). This rink would eventually disappear, however, as the park was becoming so heavily vandalized that guards needed to be stationed there regularly (Harriman, J. Boston Globe, 1964). Though efforts had been made to improve and modify the park, this alone was not successful: the park also needed to be supported by the city and sustained by a community that was willing to uphold the park's best interests. If vandalism was so widespread, then perhaps the park was being neglected, both by the city and by local residents.

Document that reads: City of Boston In city council May 17th, 1920 ORDERED: that the board of Park Commissioners be requested through his honor the mayor, to name the new park or playground between Norton and Stillman streets Cutillo Park or Playground, in honor pf Vincent Cutillo who gave his life for freedom in France on May 27th1918 and that said park or playground be suitably marked with signs In city council May 1924, 1020, Passed [signature] City Clerk

A city document approving the construction of  Cutillo Park (Boston City Archives, 1920)

tri-colored map of Map of Cutillo Park in 1928 (G.W. Bromley, 1928)

Map of Cutillo Park in 1928 (G.W. Bromley, 1928)

Tri-colored map of Map of Cutillo Park in 1928 (G.W. Bromley, 1928)

Map of Cutillo Park in 1938, after the street had been widened (G.W. Bromley, 1938)

Color photograph by Author of long industrial building on left lined with blue and yellow trash bins. A cyclone fenced park on right or the narrow street. Brick buildings and billboard in background.Cutillo Park, Morton Street Side (Author Photograph, 2022)

Cutillo Park, Morton Street Side (Author Photograph, 2022)

Cyclone-fenced area lined with trees and benches, brick buildings in the background. Sign stating playground and danger; construction.Cutillo Park, Stillman Street Side (Author Photograph, 2022)

Cutillo Park, Stillman Street Side (Author Photograph, 2022)

Document marked with header of City of Boston. Semi-square map of an area between Stillman and Morton streets with marked improvements. Listed areas include multi-use sports court, play zone, planter garden, grove plaza, adult fitness, benches, trees and more. The plan for current reconstructions of Cutillo Park (City of Boston, 2022)

The plan for current reconstructions of Cutillo Park (City of Boston, 2022)

Remarkably, the structure of Cutillo Park has continued to change even into the current day. As of 2022, a project is currently underway in the park, with the proposed goals of “upgrading the playground, court, and place space” and “creating a more inviting and refreshed facility” (City of Boston, 2021). According to the most recent update, published on September 27, 2022 with pictures of the planned improvements attached, construction was set to begin on the week of October 10th and is expected to take one year to complete (City of Boston, 2022). This project was preceded by some local initiatives, including some by an organization called the Friends of Cutillo Park. The group petitioned for improvements to the park 4 years ago, citing the pollution and degradation of the park as incentives for its immediate improvement (Friends of Cutillo Park). This park has been a community center for a century and it is encouraging to know that it still has a tight-knit community that is willing to speak out in its best interests, as well as a city government that is actively making efforts to improve the park and keep it progressing forward.

Works Cited (APA)