Mayor Michelle Wu And Boston Parks And Recreation Celebrate Steven P. Odom Serenity Garden...

Mayor Michelle Wu joined Boston Parks Commissioner Diana Fernandez Bibeau, Redefining Our Communities (ROC), elected officials, and the Dorchester community to cut the ribbon on the newly improved and renamed Steven P. Odom Serenity Garden in Dorchester on October 3.

The park, named in honor of Steven Phillip Odom, a 13-year-old Dorchester resident who was a victim of gun violence, was designed as a peaceful space for reflection, remembrance and community connection.

"Beautiful open spaces have the power to heal and bring communities together," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "The Steven P. Odom Serenity Garden will forever be a place to gather, reflect and honor the lives of those we have lost. Every tree and stone and flower is a tribute to Steven, a beloved 13-year-old whose life was taken too soon. Thanks to the advocacy and dedication of the Odom family, community members and City staff, this garden will serve as a place of peace, healing and hope."

Steven P. Odom Serenity Garden is a new park adjacent to the new Morton Station Village housing development located on Hopkins Street in Mattapan. The site features a natural stone patio, water fountain, and pillars engraved with words of inspiration and Steven's own poetry. Complete with new landscaping that features a palette of native and pollinator friendly plants, this quiet space welcomes visitors to pause and reflect.

"Today marks a milestone for our community as we officially cut the ribbon and welcome the public to the Steven P. Odom Serenity Garden," said Commissioner Diana Fernandez Bibeau. "Our parks are places where we come together to celebrate, connect with nature, and make memories and they can also be important spaces for reflection and healing. We are honored to have created a space where Steven's memory, his poetry, and his voice will endure for generations to come. We are grateful to the Odom Family, Redefining Our Communities, and all of our partners for helping shape this project."

Formerly the location of a Boston Police Department station, the Mayor's Office of Housing worked alongside the community to transform the land into affordable housing which would include a parcel of open space for the purpose of a city park. The parcel was officially transferred to Boston Parks and Recreation for permanent care and maintenance in January 2025 and construction was supported by Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding.

Steven P. Odom Serenity Garden was designed by RBLA Design, LLC and constructed by Woodall Construction Co. The project budget included $456,123, funded with $50,000 from the City's five-year Capital Plan and with construction costs funded by a CPA grant.

The design of the Odom Serenity Garden was guided by extensive community input gathered through public meetings and surveys beginning in 2018. The park provides a safe, serene place where community members can gather, reflect, remember and find a moment of quiet and peace. A key feature of the design is poetry, written by Steven in 8th grade at the James P. Timilty School and now etched into stone. A butterfly motif was included throughout the park as a symbol of Steven and a purple color palette was chosen to represent serenity and power.

"For 19 years, October 4th was a day of private grief in our home. This partnership with the City of Boston Parks Department changes that. It means our son Steven P. Odom is no longer just remembered inside our family - he is now part of the fabric of this neighborhood forever," said Ronald and Kim Odom, parents of Steven P. Odom. "Our hope is that people will be drawn to the healing elements provided in this space/garden. Read Steven's poems etched in the stones. Sit, reflect, breathe and be inspired by the voice of a 13 year old boy who loved his family, his faith and his community."

Find more project updates at boston.gov/odom-serenity-garden. To stay up to date with news, events, and improvements in Boston parks visit boston.gov/parks, call (617) 635-4505, join our email list, and follow our social channels at @parks.boston.gov on Bluesky and @bostonparksdept on Facebook and Instagram.

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• Published by: Parks and Recreation