Brookline Town Hall Park Maintenance & Operations

Welcome to Brookline Town Hall Park Maintenance & Operations, located at 870 Hammond Street, Brookline, Massachusetts. This beautifully maintained formal park offers a serene escape with its elegant sloping lawn and striking geometric plantings. Visitors can enjoy leisurely walks along the diagonal paths that begin at each corner and intersect at the center, all bordered by regularly spaced trees that provide a picturesque canopy.

The park features three distinctive levels of vegetation, creating a harmonious blend of nature: towering deciduous trees form the upper layer, ornamental trees add charm to the middle layer, and a lush mix of evergreen and deciduous shrubs completes the lower level. This intricate design offers a rich and diverse landscape for all to appreciate.

Knyvet Square is part of a visionary project initiated by David Sears in the early 19th century. Sears began acquiring land in the Longwood area in 1818, with the aim of creating a network of streets, lots, and parks. By the late 1840s, his dream materialized with the establishment of four small parks. In a generous gesture, the heirs of David Sears donated these squares to the Town in 1902-1903, ensuring their preservation as public parks.

The park has undergone several enhancements over the years to maintain its beauty and safety. Notable improvements include the installation of lighting and resurfacing of paths in 1961, an underground irrigation system in 1963, and the addition of flowering trees around 1975. A significant renovation in 1995, funded by the Community Development Block Grant, focused on safety and included repaving paths, removing hazardous trees, and enhancing drainage.

Brookline Town Hall Park remains a cherished public space, thanks to the dedication of Francis Shaw and the heirs of David Sears, who ensured its continued existence as a public park, distinct from a playground. We invite you to visit and experience the tranquility and beauty of this historic park, a testament to thoughtful urban planning and community commitment.