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Welcoming Gesture
The statue, the main feature of the Prado, is one of Boston’s most famous. The outstretched hand of Paul Revere seems to touch the city’s most notable historic churches and beckons visitors and residents alike into the Prado itself. It is hard to imagine what the physical landscape of the North End would look like without the influence of one of America’s noted patriots.
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Rendered in Bronze
The bronze statue sits as a marker on the Hanover Street entrance. Paul Revere faces the Bullfinch church and creates the center axis of the Prado. Situated directly in the middle of the entrance, the statue divides the Prado into two halves and creates a unique pedestrian flow as people move diverge him and come back together on the other side.
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Saint Rocco's Procession
St. Rocco’s procession is another piece of North End life that makes the neighborhood the cultural destination it is today. The Prado, along with other North End landscapes, is a place to view, or perhaps escape, some of the commotion that visitors find when they visit.
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Outdoor Room
The Prado accommodates a number of groups at once. Regular wall and freestanding seating, shaded by massive beech trees, create spaces for visitors and residents to come and relax. The trees form a canopy similar to the roof of a home. This comfortable space is a regular place for locals and visitors to sit and wonder.
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Prado's Fountain
At the far end of the Prado is a fountain. The walls of the mall bow out to accommodate the large circular basin. It is not uncommon to find people of all ilks gathering and enjoying the serenity and white noise of the fountain. It is here, at the back of the Prado, that visitors can find shelter from the characteristic bustle and crowded, lively atmosphere of the North End.
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The Walls Speak
Against the walls surrounding the fountain are plaques dedicated to the history of the neighborhood and to the Prado itself. In this way, the Prado becomes a place of relaxation and learning for the neighborhood. The mall gives reverence to its own history while helping to reinforce the character that visitors have been exposed to along the Freedom Trail.
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Contemplation
The fountain at the Prado is a place where even some of Boston’s youngest guests find moments of peace and contemplation. The calming sound and generous proportions of the fountain make it a marvel for visitors big and small.
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Linear Relationships
From the back of the Prado, visitors come to understand the strong, linear relationships of the park. The fountain and statue act as centerpieces around which traffic circulates, while the trees and benches create invisible divisions that encourage different types of usage. Sitting, standing, traveling, and learning all have their own specific places in the Prado.
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History Lesson
Groups take time to read and understand their current location. The Prado serves as a tool for visitors to learn and enjoy some of Boston’s most notable history. Neighborhood history, as well as the history of influential Bostonians, is relayed in a quiet, calm atmosphere.
Image: Maria Bellalta
Performance Space
With all the vibrancy of the North End it is no surprise that the Prado becomes a performance space as well. Its wide stance and evenly spaced features have framed some of Boston’s local talent throughout the years. Throngs of visitors and residents can always expect to find reminders of Boston’s diversity and romantic city life.
Image: Maria Bellalta