The Frederick Douglass Peace Park in Roxbury was established in 2009 by neighborhood leaders and the United Neighbors of Lower Roxbury. Since then, it has been regularly maintained by an expanding community of neighbors. 

The partnership with the Boston Food Forest Coalition began in 2023 when those neighbors — as well as the United Neighbors of Lower Roxbury — collaborated on the renovation of the park. Food forest elements were added, including berry bushes, fruit trees, native and medicinal plants, improved fencing, restored pedestrian pathway, and groundcover in the form of mulch, grass, and clover.

The goal of the restoration of the peace park is to honor the legacy of Frederick Douglass, a powerful abolitionist, activist, and orator. This project is intentional about engaging the significant number of Roxbury residents who were able to remain after the impacts of urban renewal took effect. In that way, we honor the people of Roxbury and keep the integrity of what the Frederick Douglass Peace Park represents. 

The Frederick Douglass Peace Park has served as a gateway to a history long excluded from public recognition—one preserved through oral tradition within the African American community. This space was envisioned as an inclusive, intergenerational, and intercultural gathering place, accessible to people of all abilities. Inspired by the broad accessibility of institutions like the Boston Public Library, the park was designed to reflect that same spirit in open space. A series of community engagement sessions helped shape the park’s purpose and define its role within the larger ecosystem of the district.

Neighborhood stewards led efforts to ensure that the park’s development was rooted in community priorities. Through collaboration with local residents, the design process reflected a shared vision for the space, supporting both cultural enrichment and everyday use. This approach offered a powerful example of residents exercising collective power to shape their environment—from co-creating the final design to participating in park cleanups that fostered safety and a welcoming atmosphere.