Friends of Titus Sparrow Park Awarded Henry Lee Grant to Support New Pollinator Garden
FTSP Board Chair, Cara Sipprelle, FTSP President, Shayna Keshian, and FTSP Board Member & Garden Club Founder, Anjali Iyengar
On April 14, the Friends of Titus Sparrow Park (FTSP) were honored at the annual meeting of Friends of the Public Garden, where we were recognized as a 2026 recipient of the Henry Lee Fund for Boston Parks.
We were awarded a $5,000 grant—an investment that will directly support a new, thoughtfully designed pollinator garden adjacent to the playground.
The Henry Lee Fund for Boston Parks, established to honor the legacy of Henry Lee, the Friends’ founding President and a lifelong champion of urban parks, supports community-driven projects that enhance and activate Boston’s green spaces. Now in its second year, the fund continues to empower neighborhood groups like ours to bring meaningful improvements to the parks we care for.
For Titus Sparrow Park, this grant allows us to take an important next step following recent renovations—enhancing the landscape with a sustainable, low-maintenance garden that brings both beauty and environmental value to the space.
What the Grant Will Support
In partnership with GreenOp Landscaping Services, a local landscape design company with strong ties to the neighborhood, FTSP will reestablish a perennial, drought-tolerant pollinator garden designed to bloom continuously from spring through fall.
The project includes:
Site preparation: Removing invasive plants, pruning existing plantings, leveling the terrain, and improving soil health
Plant installation: Introducing a curated mix of shrubs and perennials, including:
Little Lime Hydrangea
Japanese Spirea
Inkberry Holly
Dwarf Mondo Grass
Full-sun flowering perennials selected to support pollinators
Ongoing care: Community-led maintenance including watering and weeding throughout the summer months, driven by our newly formed Garden Club.
This work builds on earlier efforts completed by FTSP in Fall 2025, where invasive species were removed and existing plants were winterized in preparation for this next phase.
Why a Pollinator Garden Matters
Beyond aesthetics, this garden is designed with purpose. Pollinator-friendly plantings support bees, butterflies, and other essential species, while drought-tolerant selections ensure the space remains resilient in changing climate conditions.
Located next to the playground, the garden will also serve as a subtle educational opportunity—introducing children and families to the importance of biodiversity in an accessible, everyday setting.
Looking Ahead
Installation is scheduled for late April through May 2026, with maintenance continuing through the summer. By early summer, the garden will begin to take shape—adding color, texture, and life to a well-loved corner of the park.
We are incredibly grateful to the Friends of the Public Garden and the Henry Lee Fund for supporting this project, and to our community for continuing to show up, care for, and invest in Titus Sparrow Park.
If you’re inspired by this project, we’d love to have you get involved—join our Garden Club and help us bring this space to life, season after season.
Friends Of The Public Garden exec board members Catherine Bordon, Liza Meyer, and Leslie Singleton Adam with recipients of the Henry Lee Fund. Photo credit: The Boston Sun
Henry Lee Grant Recipients
Playground Green Zone Restoration | South End
Restoring neglected planting beds at Titus Sparrow Park by removing invasive species and installing drought-tolerant perennial plantings.
Tree Replacement at Hayes Park | South End
Replacing a fallen mature willow tree with a site-appropriate Katsura tree and restoring the surrounding landscape.
89 Radcliffe Street Food Forest Signage | Dorchester
Installing multilingual educational signage to provide plant identification and wayfinding along ADA-compliant paths.
Little Free Library & Entrance Improvements | Dorchester
Improving a prominent entrance at Ronan Park through shrub plantings, stable pathway surfacing, and seat wall restoration.
Pollinator Garden at Adams–King Playground | Dorchester
Enhancing an underutilized garden with improved fencing, educational signage, and new plantings to strengthen habitat value.
Tree Care at Rev. Loesch Family Park | Dorchester
Professional pruning of mature trees to improve long-term health and ensure safety in a heavily used community space.
Statler Park Memorial Components | Downtown
Supporting the fabrication of the Cocoanut Grove Memorial, including stainless steel frame components and engraved granite plaques.
Thetford Evans Playground Beautification | Mattapan
Supporting phased safety and aesthetic improvements, including perimeter plantings for the playground and splash pad area.
18th Century Garden | North End
Funding for the maintenance and preservation of this historic garden space at Old North Illuminated.
Adams Park Enhancements | Roslindale
Adding ADA-accessible picnic tables and seasonal plantings to transform the park into a central gathering and dining hub.
