Proposed Collaboration Structure

Create a Public Waterfront Park at Pier 5

Expand Courageous Sailing’s Capacity & Programming

Utilize Pier 5 to provide additional classroom space, boat storage, and waiting areas for students.

Offer sheltered spaces for youth during inclement weather.

Enhance accessibility to sailing for local low- and moderate-income families.

Promote Climate Resilience & Sustainability

Implement environmentally friendly infrastructure, such as floating wetlands and flood-resilient designs.

Support educational initiatives on climate change and marine conservation.

Foster Community Engagement & Public Access

Host public events, workshops, and community gatherings at Pier 5.

Ensure Pier 5 remains a public asset rather than being privatized.

Increase waterfront accessibility for all Boston residents.

Proposed Collaboration Structure

Courageous Sailing School: Lead sailing education programs, utilize new facilities for youth engagement, and maintain safe boating access.

Pier 5 Association: Advocate for public access, historical preservation, and community engagement.

BPDA (Boston Planning & Development Agency): Support regulatory approvals, oversee infrastructure planning, and provide funding opportunities.

City of Boston & Private Funders: Financial backing for park construction, maintenance, and program expansion.

Stakeholders

Pier 5 Harbor Park stakeholders are making tangible progress toward a shared vision of a public Pier 5 that enhances community well-being, preserves Charlestown’s rich maritime history, and fosters a dynamic and inclusive waterfront for generations to come.

Children stakeholders have drawn a picture for the Authority to understand that the public does not want further massive Private Yacht Club franchise expansions.

Youth Lead the Change Hails Boston

The Authority opinion on Children Stakeholders can be found here.

“Boston youth have the power to spend one million dollars every year through a participatory budgeting process.”*cite, link

The mission of Youth Lead the Change is to engage Boston’s youth in the democratic process by giving them the power and resources to effect tangible change in their communities.

2026-boston-cpa-eligibility-packet

The Community Preservation Act is an incredible institution that funds initiatives consistent with statewide CPA guidelines: affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space and public recreation. The funding requires a recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee and appropriation by the City. The CPA can help coordinate the stakeholders to achieve the better common decisions shared as neighbors. www.boston.gov/cpa

Working together with the National Parks Service Battlefield Grants the Pier 5 Association are communicating about transparency and engagement moving forward. To have the Authority available to discuss these opportunities would be useful to achieve a common park.

The National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program (NPS ABPP) assists citizens, public and private institutions, and governments in planning, interpreting, and protecting sites where historic battles w pught on American soil during the armed conflicts that shaped the growth and development of the United States.

Open Space Acquisition Program

Our city is growing. More people mean we need more open space: parks, playgrounds, urban wilds. This program seeks to acquire properties to create these new open spaces for everyone.

The USS Constitution Museum, located near Pier 5, attracts over 350,000 visitors annually, making it one of Boston’s most visited museums.

These visitors contribute to the local economy through spending on dining, lodging, and other activities, thereby supporting local businesses and generating tax revenue for the city.

By integrating the rich maritime history of the Charlestown Navy Yard with the park’s design, Pier 5 could serve as an extension of the storytelling and educational experiences offered at the USS Constitution Museum and National Park site.

Pier 5 can be a contemplative place to absorb the history learned at the US Constitution.

Interpretive signage, historic exhibits, and shared programming could help visitors understand the naval, industrial, and cultural significance of the area, ensuring that the park is not only a recreational space but also a destination that reinforces Charlestown’s historical identity.

From an environmental and flood management perspective, collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS) could help ensure that Pier 5 is developed with climate-resilient infrastructure that aligns with broader waterfront adaptation strategies.

The USS Constitution and its surrounding facilities have already implemented flood mitigation measures, and a public park at Pier 5 could incorporate cohesive stormwater management systems, resilient landscaping, and elevation strategies to reduce the risks of coastal flooding and sea-level rise.

By working together, planners could develop nature-based solutions, such as floating wetlands, permeable surfaces, and living shorelines, which would not only protect Pier 5 but also contribute to the overall resilience of the Charlestown waterfront.

Additionally, a partnership with the National Park Service could strengthen community engagement and education by offering joint programming, cross-promoted events, and shared resources. Programs focusing on climate change education, naval history, and waterfront ecology could draw visitors from both the USS Constitution site and the broader Boston community, fostering a deeper appreciation for the harbor’s role in shaping the city’s past and future.

This collaboration would ensure that Pier 5 is not an isolated project but rather an integrated extension of Boston’s historic and cultural landscape, reinforcing both its public value and long-term sustainability.