The Beacon Hill Civic Association held a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside of 26 Charles St. on Wednesday for the new tree-guards and planting, which the group donated to the community to commemorate its 90th anniversary.
The ceremony was the culmination of a capital campaign that the Civic Association, which was founded in 1922, launched last year with the goal of establishing a $90,000 fund for new tree guards and plantings on Charles Street.
“Virtually all the guards and plantings are now installed, and then the project is completed,” said Steve Young, chair of the Civic Association board of directors.
Jack Gurnon, owner of Charles Street Supply, installed the metal plaque fastened to the tree-guard at 26 Charles St., and the dedication was followed by a reception at Bin 26 Enoteca sponsored by the restaurant’s owner and Beacon Hill Business Association board member Babak Bina.
The Civic Association’s efforts were inspired by the work of the Joint Charles Street Committee, a collaboration between the Civic Association and Business Association dedicated to improving conditions on Charles Street. The committee, chaired by John Corey and Susan Symonds, who serve on the Civic Association’s and Business Association’s boards, respectively, launched a pilot program to install new tree-guards on Charles Street two years ago.
Miguel Rosales, the renowned Boston architect who conceived the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, contributed the tree-guard design pro bono.
“If not for Miguel’s expertise, this project would still be in the initial stages,” Young said.
Young went on to thank Alyson Lindsey and Bob Owens, who lead the fundraising campaign, and Antonia Pollak and Joanne Massaro, commissioners of the city’s Parks and Public Works departments, respectively, for their support throughout the project.
In closing, Young thanked the donors who contributed to the 90th-anniversary campaign.