The Office of Housing and the Boston Food Forest Coalition Celebrate the Grand Opening of Ryo's...

New community green space brings fresh food, urban agriculture, and opportunities for neighbors to connect

The Office of Housing joined the Boston Food Forest Coalition, neighborhood residents, and community partners to celebrate the grand opening of Ryo's Food Forest Park in Dorchester. Located at 89 Radcliffe Street, the new park transforms neighborhood land into a welcoming green space where residents can grow and harvest fresh food, connect with nature, and gather with neighbors. The project was developed by the Boston Food Forest Coalition with support from the Mayor's Office of Housing's Grassroots Open Space Program.

Ryo's Food Forest Park is named in honor of Ryo Kawashima Coleman, a beloved mother and gardener whose generosity helped inspire the transformation of a vacant lot into a community gathering space. Known for sharing plants with her neighbors along Radcliffe Street, Ryo helped foster a spirit of connection that continues today. Following four years of neighborhood advocacy in partnership with the Greater Four Corners Action Coalition and a community-led design process with the Boston Food Forest Coalition, neighbors gathered to vote on a name for the new park. They chose to honor Ryo and carry forward her legacy of generosity and community care. Today, the 11,000-square-foot park provides a welcoming space where residents can grow food, connect with nature, and build on the relationships that helped bring the project to life.

"Congratulations to the Harvard-Washington-Norwell Neighborhood Association and the Boston Food Forest Coalition for transforming this former City-owned property into a beautiful and valuable community resource," said Sheila A. Dillon, Chief of Housing. "This project creates meaningful opportunities for residents to grow fresh, healthy food, learn about urban agriculture, and strengthen connections with their neighbors."

The new park features fruit trees, edible shrubs, perennial plants, raised garden beds, walking paths, and seating areas. Solar lighting, irrigation, and a maintenance shed will help support the park's long-term use. A pathway connecting Norwell and Radcliffe streets provides neighborhood access, while gathering areas offer space for community events, educational activities, and everyday recreation.

The Boston Food Forest Coalition is a nonprofit community land trust that develops and maintains food forests throughout Boston. Food forests use fruit trees, shrubs, and other perennial plants to create green spaces that produce food while supporting the environment. The organization works to advance food justice, sustainable urban agriculture, and neighborhood stewardship.

"Ryo's Food Forest Park reflects the power of community members coming together to create something that will benefit their neighborhood for generations," said Orion Kriegman, Executive Director of the Boston Food Forest Coalition. "This park is about more than growing food. It's about growing relationships, sharing knowledge, and giving residents a place where they can connect with the land and with one another. We're grateful to the City of Boston and the neighbors who helped make this project possible."

Community involvement has been central to the project. The Boston Food Forest Coalition worked with residents for several years to develop the park's design, attending neighborhood association meetings and meeting directly with neighbors to gather input. A neighborhood stewardship committee will help manage and maintain the park with support from coalition staff. Community members will take part in seasonal workdays and ongoing activities, including planting, harvesting, and caring for the space.

The project was made possible through a combination of public and private funding, including from the Mayor's Office of Housing's Grassroots Open Space Program, funding from the Community Preservation Act, a private foundation, and additional funding from the Boston Food Forest Coalition.

"Ryo's Food Forest Park is a wonderful example of how Community Preservation funding can help turn neighborhood ideas into lasting community assets," said Thadine Brown, Director of the City of Boston's Community Preservation Office. "By investing in projects like this, the City is helping create welcoming green spaces where residents can grow fresh food, connect with nature, and build stronger relationships with their neighbors. We're proud to partner with the Boston Food Forest Coalition and the community members whose vision and dedication made this park possible."

The Grassroots Open Space Program supports community-led projects that transform underused land into gardens, urban farms, and neighborhood green spaces. By investing in these projects, the City helps residents improve their neighborhoods, expand access to green space, and create places that support healthy, connected communities.

• Published by: Housing