Welcome
The Chinatown gate provides a welcome to the community. The open plaza provides a venue for a wide range of seasonal festivals, celebrations, and daily rituals.
Image: JP Shadley, Shadley Associates
Sampan Sail
The contemporary red-steel gateway serves as a sculptural counterpoint to the traditional gate at Beach Street. The stylized sampan sail is rendered in stainless steel, metal fabric, and LEDs. In the evening the sail becomes a soft beacon of light.
Image: Carol R Johnson Associates Inc. 
Tradition in Modern Form
Lit, misted grasses recall traditional rice fields. Support frames for tall, hardy bamboo plants are translated from vernacular materials into sculptures of red steel.
Image: Carol R Johnson Associates Inc. 
Reclaimed Seawall Stones
Reclaimed seawall stones that originally formed the wharfs onto which Asian immigrants landed in Boston are now the park's focal waterfall and stream. All are united by the creative use of concrete pavers patterned to evoke the scales of a dragon extending the length of the park.
Image: Carol R Johnson Associates Inc. 
A Contemporary Interpretation
The design interprets traditional Chinese elements such as the village festival space, contemplative gardens, gateways, walls, stone, and flowing water, in a contemporary fashion to create a space that is uniquely modern with strong visual references to the past.
Image: Andrew Arbaugh, Shadley Associates
A Serpentine Path
Balancing the paved plaza, the northern end of the park features a serpentine path that passes through a richly planted garden featuring plants of Asian origin. The space provides a respite from the busy city streets.
Image: JP Shadley, Shadley Associates
People Watching
Colorful umbrellas and seasonal planters create an attractive spot to dine, relax, and watch people on a warm summer’s day.
Image: Benjamin Cheung Photography .jpg)
A Place for Chinese Games
Adjacent to Chinatown Park, Mary Soo Hoo Park, designed by Stephen Stimson Associates Landscape Architects, is an extremely popular sheltered place where residents gather in droves and play Chinese checkers.
Image: Benjamin Cheung Photography 
A Ribbon Theme
Variable height, sculptural stone seating extends the "ribbon" theme found throughout Mary Soo Hoo Park.
Image: Andrew Arbaugh, Shadley Associates
Chinese Checkerboard Patterns
The pattern of the Chinese checkerboard is also expressed as part of the paving pattern in the major open spaces. Food trucks use the space during daytime hours, creating an ideal space to stop and enjoy lunch.
Image: Andrew Arbaugh, Shadley Associates