Federal Square is a
public square
A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Relat ...
in
Downtown Worcester, bounded by Main Street, Southbridge Street, and Federal Street. The square is named after the
Harold D. Donohue Federal Building, which fronts the square to the west. Prior to the opening of the Donohue Federal Building in 1932, the square was named Franklin Square.
The square is largely occupied by Francis R. Carroll Plaza, a public park named after Francis Carroll, a local businessman and
philanthropist
Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...
.
Francis R. Carroll Plaza
Originally known as Federal Square Plaza, the small urban park in Federal Square was renamed Francis R. Carroll Plaza in 2008.
In 2019, a reconstruction of Francis R. Carroll Plaza began as part of a rehabilitation project to improve Main Street. The project added new tables, chairs, decorative lighting,
public art
Public art is art in any Media (arts), media whose form, function and meaning are created for the general public through a public process. It is a specific art genre with its own professional and critical discourse. Public art is visually and phy ...
, benches,
trash cans
A waste container, also known as a dustbin, rubbish bin, trash can, garbage can, wastepaper basket, and wastebasket, among other names, is a type of container intended to store waste that is usually made out of metal or plastic. The words "r ...
, and trees. A decorative
colonnade
In classical architecture, a colonnade is a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing, or part of a building. Paired or multiple pairs of columns are normally employed in a colonnade which can be straight or curv ...
and an obsolete fountain were removed from the plaza to make way for the improvements. A section of Southbridge Street was pedestrianized as part of the project, extending the plaza to the front door of the Hanover Theatre.
The reconstruction project was finished in Summer 2023.
Image gallery
References
{{reflist
Parks in Worcester, Massachusetts