Barnard Place Park & Boston Community Preservation

Evan Spencer

Chief Executive Officer | President   

My Wife and I moved to South Boston in October of 2004. We instantly fell in love with the peace and tranquility of Barnard Place. Although I did not grow up in Southie, three generations before me did, and I am proud to be raising our daughter here. For over 30 years the residents of Barnard Place have been protecting the open space where the park will be located. I am excited to be involved with this effort to create a quiet, green space to share with the community for generations to come. 

Emily Doyle

Chief Operating Officer | Vice President 

I moved to Barnard Place in 2014 - what a location! Barnard Place is a close knit community of residents and brings a unique neighborhood feel to city living. As Head of the Design Committee for Barnard Place Park, I worked closely with COGdesign on the details for the conceptual design of the park, learning about exciting ways to bring nature to the city.  In the spring of 2020, I was honored to join the Barnard Place Park leadership team as the Chief Operating Officer.  We have assembled a team, including Courtney Goode from Goode Landscape Studio, that shares a strong vision and passion for this project.  We envision a beautiful yet practical park that will encourage a sense of community but also provide a peaceful retreat from city living.  I look forward to making the conceptual design a reality and sharing our vision with the community.

David Pelissier

Chief Financial Officer | Treasurer  

I moved to Barnard Place in October of 2014. My neighbors were quick to welcome me into the neighborhood and I had the opportunity to bond with many residents while removing snow from the neighborhood that first winter. As a new resident in South Boston, I have enjoyed learning about the history of the neighborhood and engaging with long-term residents. I am excited to be a part of the Barnard Place Park organization to help ensure that we preserve the history and culture of our community. I look forward to the establishment and preservation of green space at Barnard Place. I will continue to work on developing a sustainable financial path for the park and provide hands-on efforts to plant vegetation and maintain the park for the enjoyment of our residents.

Jen Salman 

Director | Clerk

I am a lifelong resident of South Boston who has lived on Barnard Place since 1994. I’m thrilled to be a part of the revitalization of this vacant parcel that our neighborhood has taken care of for decades. We have a wonderful, dedicated group of residents who have given a tremendous amount of time and thought to this project. It is important for us to preserve the history of our neighborhood and honor the residents who were once the fabric of Barnard Place by installing two memorial benches. The recreational bocce court pays homage to the Italian families who lived and played bocce here many years ago. We are excited to bring recreational bocce to the park as a way for the community to have some fun and get to know one another. Barnard Place Park would not have been possible without the support we have been given by former Mayor Marty Walsh, Mayor Michelle Wu, Councilor Ed Flynn, Councilor Michael Flaherty, Representative David Biele, Christine Poff-Director of Community Preservation, COGdesign, and the Department of Neighborhood Development. Their involvement in our project, as it evolved from an idea in 2018, demonstrates their commitment to preserving open space in South Boston.