Beacon Hill Civic Association's letter to neighbors about Outside the Box

July 9, 2013 Dear Neighbor: The Beacon Hill Civic Association (“BHCA”) is devoted to preserving and enhancing the quality of life on Beacon Hill. Among the ways we do this are by providing you with information and advocating for Beacon Hill residents. In this regard, we are writing to alert you to an imminent event that has the potential to cause serious disruption to the neighborhood and serious damage to Beacon Hill’s front yard, the oldest park in America, the Boston Common. The event is a performing arts festival called Outside the Box (OTB). Their website (outsidetheboxboston.org) lists more than 200 events between July 13 to July 21. Festival organizers estimate that audiences during that period could exceed one million people, an unprecedentedly large scale for Boston Common. While we value attempts to bring the arts to the residents of Boston, we are troubled by the unprecedented duration, magnitude and intensity of the festival, all of which far exceed the provisions of the City’s own Boston Common Management Plan. . While we hope the event goes as envisioned and is positive for the neighborhood and the entire City of Boston, it is our job to be prepared and to be positioned to respond if things do not go off as hoped. While OTB does not begin until July 13, staging for OTB and Shakespeare on the Common is already being erected on the Common. You can help by keeping an eye on the Common over the next several weeks and reporting anything inappropriate that you observe to the Beacon Hill Civic Association at 617-227-1922 or email info@bhcivic.org. You also may contact the Mayor’s 24-hour constituent hotline at 617-635-4500/text to 617-505-1898 or email parks@cityofboston.gov or mayor@cityofboston.gov. Noise and other event related complaints may be addressed to the Boston Park Rangers at 617-635-7383. Finally, if there are specific concerns that you wish to raise with the organizers of OTB, email Kevin Carlon at kcarlon@outsidetheboxboston.org. Thank you for your continuing support of BHCA and our neighborhood. Sincerely, Keeta S. Gilmore President