Boston, MA

Many say Boston’s Copley Square has lost its charm with new design

Published

9 months ago

April 29, 2025

Many say Boston’s Copley Square has lost its charm with new design

Copley Square Park was once a green space, but after a multi-year remodel, it was partially reopened with a new design that many Bostonians aren’t loving. The grass has been replaced with cement pathways meant to make gathering easier.

‘Brick and concrete’

Bostonians are voicing their displeasure over the new concrete jungle.”There’s … seems to be just kind of brick and concrete … something,” said Tedd York, who eats his lunch in the park.

“Before, it was a beautiful field, lots of space to gather and have picnics, and people are sad that we lost it,” said Rosa Bestmann, another neighbor who had her lunch in the plaza.

People have a slew of adjectives and analogies to describe the new space. One person called it “sterile and soulless.” He said Copley went from a park to a skatepark.

“When I visited as a kid, my Dad lived here, and we’d always sit in the plaza on the grass,” said Bestmann. “I’m happy that it’s back. I think that a community space is a space.”

Green spaces coming

The park has been closed since July 2023. Since then, it has been undergoing an $18.9 million overhaul. Mayor Michelle Wu announced a partial reopening of the park before the Boston Marathon, and now she is hearing the critiques.

“This is the result of months and months of community conversations, and so I am excited for what this will mean – a more walkable, vibrant space for everyone,” said Wu.

Renderings of the design do show smaller lawn spaces in the back of the park. However, those are currently under construction. There is a yellow tulip feature at one end of the park that is drawing plenty of onlookers. Right now, it is the only green space in the park.

Beyond the aesthetics, the long completion time has some folks cracking Big Dig jokes. The expectation is that the city will continue its remodel through the spring by finishing the fountains and lawn areas. By then, it may show shades of its old self.

“There’s a tortoise and a hare (statue). I don’t know if that’s a joke because it took so long,” laughed York.

Mike Sullivan

Mike Sullivan is a multimedia journalist for WBZ-TV.

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Boston, MA

Man stabbed in fight over shoveled-out parking space in Boston, police say

Published

2 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Press Room

Man stabbed in fight over shoveled-out parking space in Boston, police say

February 4, 2026 / 1:31 PM EST
/ CBS Boston

An argument over a shoveled-out parking space in Boston, a week and a half after the city’s eighth-biggest snowstorm on record, turned violent when a man was stabbed, police say.

Enel Javier, 47, is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury. Police say the stabbing victim had discovered Javier’s car on Evans Street in Dorchester, “parked in a space [the victim] believed he had personally cleared of snow.”

An altercation ensued, and Javier allegedly stabbed the 41-year-old man in the hand with a knife. A woman who intervened was also hurt while trying to disarm Javier, police said.

Officers responded at about 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday to the scene. They found Javier with the injured man and woman, as well as blood on nearby snowbanks.

“Through further investigation by responding officers and District B-3 detectives, it was determined that the incident originated from a dispute over a shoveled parking space,” police said.

Javier was due to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on Wednesday.

It snowed more than 20 inches in Boston on Jan. 25-26, and there has been very little melting since then thanks to a historic cold stretch that followed, making streets and sidewalks hard to navigate.

Space savers to hold a shoveled-out parking spot are only allowed in Boston for 48 hours after a snow emergency ends. The snow emergency from the most recent storm ended nearly a week ago.

Despite the rule, drivers who take a “saved” spot in Boston have previously been subject to threats and vandalism to their cars.

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Boston, MA

East Boston basketball celebrates a grand total (Kai Lau Quan) and a grand career (Mike Rubin) – The Boston Globe

Published

14 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Press Room

East Boston basketball celebrates a grand total (Kai Lau Quan) and a grand career (Mike Rubin) – The Boston Globe

But with 1:36 remaining, the East Boston senior guard knocked down the first of two free throws to reach the milestone, letting out a sigh of relief as his teammates and coaches gathered to celebrate.

And before the opening tap, East Boston celebrated the legendary run of former coach, and headmaster, Mike Rubin, naming the court in his honor and unveiling a jersey that will be placed on the back wall of the gym.

Before his transfer to East Boston, Lau Quan played his freshman and sophomore seasons in Milford, N.H.

“Since he stepped foot in [East Boston], he’s been a leader, he’s put in a tremendous amount of work, and it showed tonight,” said East Boston coach Tyrone Figueroa.

As a senior, Lau Quan has averaged more than 20 points per game for the Jets (1-15, 0-8 BCL).

In the first against the Townies (10-4, 8-0), Lau Quan had tallied 1 point, and facing suffocating double teams, managed just one shot attempt. He hit two free throws in the third quarter, and two more in the fourth for 5 points.

Just when it looked like the “Congrats Kai!” posters and balloons reading “1,000” would have to be put aside until the next game, Lau Quan (9 points) was fouled on an aggressive drive to the basket. Two free throws and a closing layup, and he had his grand total.

The Townies rode strong efforts from sophomore guard Kamari Day (20 points, 8 assists), and junior center Jeremy Baez (14 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 blocks) to remain unbeaten in the city.

Flanked by family, and friends, longtime East Boston coach and administer Mike Rubin had the court named in his honor Tuesday afternoon.ROBERT MARRA PHOTOGRAPHY

For Rubin, Tuesday was a long time coming. In his 24 years on the East Boston bench, he won 300-plus games, 10 City League titles, and four Division 2 state titles and is a member of the state basketball coaches hall of fame.

“You’ve got to give 110 percent, you’ve got to play defense, and you’ve got to be a team player,” Rubin said. “Good behavior on and off the court was non-negotiable. Wear a shirt and tie to all away games. If you didn’t wear a shirt and tie, you didn’t ride my bus — you walked.”

Webb Constable can be reached at webb.constable@globe.com. Follow him on X @webbconstable.

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Boston, MA

Boston Police Department mourns death of active-duty officer of 30+ years

Published

1 day ago

February 3, 2026

Press Room

Boston Police Department mourns death of active-duty officer of 30+ years

A Boston police officer with more than three decades on the job died Friday following an extended sick leave, the Boston Police Department announced.

The police department is mourning Officer Scott J. MacIsaac, the department said in a press release announcing his death. The department did not specify MacIsaac’s age or cause of death.

MacIsaac joined the department on June 28, 1995, the department said. Prior to taking extended sick leave, he most recently spent six years working in District E-5 — West Roxbury and Roslindale.

MacIsaac also served in districts B-2 — Roxbury, A-7 — East Boston, B-3 — Dorchester and Mattapan and C-6 — South Boston during his tenure at the Boston Police Department, the department said.

MacIsaac received many “commendations and accolades” over the years, including recognition for robbery, car break-in and assault arrests in South Boston, the department said. One comment from his supervisor characterized MacIsaac as one of their best officers, while another from a district captain commended his efforts during the Boston Marathon bombings in April 2013.

MacIsaac has also been recognized for saving lives, such as during an incident in which he helped stop a person from jumping off a bridge, the department said. During another critical incident, he revived a person through CPR, and they survived.

Commendations from outside the police department include thank you letters from the parents of a youth he counseled, an elected official for MacIsaac’s efforts to improve public safety in East Boston and an assistant district attorney for the officer’s help in prosecuting a suspect who stole a car and tried to run MacIsaac down.

“Clearly, Officer MacIsaac made a great impact in the communities he served,” the release reads. “Officer MacIsaac was highly regarded by those he worked with, his supervisors and all who knew him, both within the Department and by those we serve.”

The department did not provide information about funeral arrangements. No further information about MacIsaac’s death has been released.

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