Dr. Jonathan Jefferson speaks at the opening of RCC’s new park.

On Aug. 21, Roxbury Community College (RCC) celebrated the grand opening of its 10,000-square-foot Pocket Park, a previously underused parking lot at 303 Highland Street. The new green space premiered with a cookout featuring music, grilled food, custom game tables and a complimentary ice cream truck.

The park is the first phase of a three-part project that will ultimately extend to the back fence of the property. It also marks an advancement for environmental justice: According to a 2023 research project by RCC and UMass Boston, Roxbury’s lack of green spaces creates an “urban heat island,” causing temperatures to run 10 degrees higher than other parts of Boston. Nearby West Roxbury has twice as much green space per 100 people.

“Creating more accessible green spaces is therefore not simply an aesthetic improvement,” said RCC President Dr. Jonathan Jefferson. “It is an investment in the health, well-being and quality of life of our community.”

The park contributes to public health by replacing asphalt with grass, trees and native plants. Boston Parks and Recreation Commissioner Diana Fernandez voiced hope that more small, underutilized areas like the former parking lot could be turned into “oases for the community.”

State Sen. Liz Miranda reminded the gathering that Roxbury has historically fought against the destructive forces of redlining and urban renewal to build itself up. The senator described how decades ago, activists fought hard to ensure that the community college would be placed at the very center of Roxbury. Her speech framed the park as the latest instance in a long legacy of community self-determination.

The project was made possible through a $450,000 grant from the city’s Community Preservation Act (CPA) fund. Born from a collaboration between RCC and the city, the park sits on the college campus but is open to everyone.

Board Chair Dr. Richard O’Brien framed city parks as a third space for the public, providing “free, accessible places where Roxbury residents can gather and enjoy the outdoors.”

In this spirit of openness, RCC and city leaders are asking residents to vote on a permanent name for the space.

This park construction is not an isolated project. It sits alongside other major RCC investments, including the $1.2 million renovation of the historic Dudley House, campus-wide geothermal energy projects, a landmark solar canopy and a new makerspace opening in September.

These joint ventures between the college and city are ambitious undertakings for District 7, which City Councilor Miniard Culpepper described as the “heartbeat of Boston.”

The park’s design and construction were carried out by ICON Architecture & Greg Lombardi Design Inc., Accenture I&CP and Canniff Company. Cookout attendees played chess and checkers using pieces crafted by Curtis, an RCC engineering student who manages the college’s makerspace that is set to open on Sept. 16.

Presenting a City Council resolution, Culpepper poignantly told the crowd that the pocket park gives residents a “place to simply be. A place to sit, a place to gather — a place where neighbors can meet one another, and hopefully a place where we can create memories together.”