Mayor Michelle Wu joined the Boston Housing Authority, Boston Parks & Recreation Department, Department of Housing and Community Development and South Boston neighbors to recognize the $9 million modernization and newly dedicated Colin’s Courtyard at Monsignor Powers Apartments in South Boston.

The Building Envelope project modernizes Monsignor Powers, a BHA elderly/disabled public housing development, by providing new insulation, roofing, windows, doors, railings and exterior panels, greatly improving the conditions for residents who live there. . Colin’s Courtyard is a multigenerational plaza that was built to provide a safe green space for families, seniors and children to gather and play on L Street. It was dedicated to the memory of Colin McGrath, a child who died in a tragic car accident on L Street in front of Monsignor Powers Apartments in 2018, shortly before his third birthday.

"I want to thank the BHA and all our South Boston community members for helping us officially open Colin’s Courtyard at the Monsignor Powers apartments. This is a beautiful multigenerational space to forever memorialize the joy that Colin McGrath brought to this community & that the McGrath family continues to spread across our city." 

The event marked the completion of two projects that have beautified the neighborhood and improved the quality of life for residents in South Boston. BHA and DHCD partnered together to bring much needed capital upgrades and exterior improvements to Monsignor Powers, which will improve the building's environmental sustainability and resident quality of life.

“The accident was a traumatic moment for many in the community--first and foremost the McGrath family—but some of our residents saw the accident firsthand, and it’s hard to even begin to quantify such a loss,” BHA Administrator Kate Bennett said. “This moment is a testament to a community that has rallied together under the worst of circumstances and taken care of each other by investing in seniors and investing in kids.”

Colin’s Courtyard at Monsignor Powers Apartments features a newarc-style great lawn, along with site furnishings that are welcoming and attractive to the community of seniors and families. The new park contains a passive plaza area including tables and gathering space for the residents near the entrance of their building, landscaping, fence restoration with a new bright entrance planted with Colin’s Joy daffodils at the site of the accident, an area for the painted rocks (donated by the community in support of the family), a little library and an interactive pump water feature where kids can play and learn.

“Much as Colin’s memory has strengthened the South Boston community through the Colin’s Joy Project, his continuing legacy has brought together the Boston Housing Authority and the Parks and Recreation Department to make this new space a reality,” said Boston Parks Commissioner Ryan Woods. “We’ve already seen Colin’s name live on in the children’s play area we opened at Medal of Honor Park in 2021 where children can play on the ‘USS Colin’ and other fun structures. Now we also have Colin’s Courtyard providing a safe place for people of all ages just a short walk away  on L Street.”

The courtyard construction was funded through the City of Boston Capital Improvement Program and the Edward Ingersoll Browne Fund with support from the Colin’s Joy Project.

"This creation of a courtyard to honor Colin’s legacy has been so meaningful to our family, and allowed us to help turn a space of pain and sadness to one of peace and positivity," Kerri and Brendan McGrath, Colin’s parents and co-founders of Colin’s Joy Project said in a statement. "Colin’s laughter, playfulness, and joy will surely live on in this wonderful multigenerational space with so many thoughtful touches, like including the painted rocks from friends and neighbors, the words inspired by Colin in the benches, the incorporation of his favorite colors into the design, and the interactive water feature that he would have loved. We look forward to the use of this space by our beloved South Boston community and thank everyone for the support and love they have shown our family." 

The Monsignor Powers Building Envelope project is the first phase of a broader effort to upgrade and modernize the site, improve residents’ quality of life, and bring the building to contemporary standards of health and sustainability. So far, the project has replaced an aging roof, fixed drainage issues on the balcony floors, balcony railings, replaced damaged doors, and windows, repaired brickwork, added a new metal facade in the front of the building, and upgraded a two-bedroom apartment to ADA standards. Most of the capital improvement project for the building was funded through the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.

The second phase of the project currently underway will fully upgrade the building’s HVAC & Energy systems.  In addition, $100,000 in state funds have been allocated to the ongoing maintenance of Colin’s Courtyard with the assistance of Senator Nick Collins and the Boston Delegation.

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