Maria Hatch
Maria Hatch's donation in memory of her brother, Edward Hatch, enabled the permanent granite shell to be completed in 1941. Correspondingly, the hatch is named after them. Unlike the mistake of Storrow Drive’s naming, this memorialisation seems fitting in memorialising how Hatch brought the Esplanade to life with her donation. It reads: "This structure erected under the will of Maria Hatch, dedicated to public service, as memorial to Edward Hatch." The gold lettering is subtle, only catching my eye because a glare of sunlight reflected off of it, and partially hidden by plants in front of it.
Jane Jacob's Theory on Planning Neighbourhood Parks
In Chapter 5 of Jane Jacob’s seminal The Death and Life of Great American Cities, she analyses the uses of neighbourhood parks. According to Jacobs, successful urban planning depends on location and design. A park in a neighbourhood full of different uses, with schools, offices, malls, etc. is likely to encounter a variety of uses by different groups of people at different times of day, and therefore become well-used and loved. Ideally a park is found at the city’s focal point, and has little competition with other open spaces. In terms of design, she highlights intricacy, centering, sun, and enclosure.
Jacob's theory on “intricacy” of public space shines a light on why creating this open-air concert arena was such a complicated, long-term process. She defines on intricacy as the idea that a park should offer people something to explore and comprise an appropriate spot for every occasion.
“Intricacy is related to the variety of reasons for which people come to neighbourhood parks. Even the same person comes from different reasons at different times; sometimes to sit tiredly, sometimes to play or to watch a game, sometimes to read or work, sometimes to show off, sometimes to fall in love, sometimes to keep an appointment, sometimes to savour the hustle of the city from a retreat, sometimes in the hope of finding acquaintances, sometimes to get closer to a bit of nature, sometimes to keep a child occupied, sometimes simply to see what offers, and almost always to be entertained by the sight of other people” (Jacobs, 103).
While the changes between 1929 and 1940, including the construction of the Hatch, predated Jacobs’ work, her theories explain why Maria Hatch's donation was so essential to invigorating the Esplanade. The existence of the Hatch shell made it possible for the Esplanade to become an major event space. These events might have introduced people to the space so that they knew about it and returned to use it in different ways during the day. With one major function anchoring this space, other functions and offerings emerged: a community boathouse, a bistro, seats and tables where people could look at the Boston harbour view... The oval in front of the Hatch doubles as a park when a concert is not in session - today there were dogs and little children running around all afternoon. People jogged, biked, and roller-bladed pass the Hatch. Others drank coffee and enjoyed fried dough at the bistro. The memorial lettering reminds us of her generosity in constructing the Hatch, but also hints at the significance of her donation for the liveliness of the Esplanade.
The three aerial shots illustrate the evolution of the Esplanade over time, capturing the replacement of the temporary shell with Hatch's permanent granite shell, and the subsequent growth of the Esplanade into a vibrant public space with more greenery and activities.
Anecdote about Urban Parks Facilitating Social Connection Today
Today, seventy years after Eliot's, the Storrows' and Hatch's generous donations and advocacy to protect this public space, my friend and I experienced the beauty of a well-designed urban park. We met a lovely family with two children and chatted with them for an hour. All awkwardness was set at bay by the myriad of activity that the space offered: listening to buskers’ music, watching the boats, enjoying a snack, but also the creativity that the space allowed: their five-year-old son initiated a game of hide-and-seek, while others basked in the sun quietly. This encounter was testament to the utility of public spaces in strengthening community and allowing people to interact in meaningful ways. The landscape architects of this space have achieved an optimal balance of "intricacy," as coined by Jacobs.
Citation
Jacobs, Jane. (1961). The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Vintage Books.