Federal Square (Worcester, Massachusetts)

Federal Square
Square in Worcester
Federal Square in July 2010. The 6Hundred is visible in the background.
Federal Square in July 2010. The 6Hundred is visible in the background.
Nickname: 
Franklin Square
Map
Coordinates: 42°15′40″N 71°48′12″W / 42.26103°N 71.80345°W / 42.26103; -71.80345
CountryUnited States
State Massachusetts
CityWorcester
DistrictDowntown
Named forHarold D. Donohue Federal Building
BoundariesMain Street, Southbridge Street, Federal Street
Historical featuresHanover Theatre & Conservancy for the Performing Arts

Federal Square is a public square 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.[1]

The square is largely occupied by Francis R. Carroll Plaza, a public park named after Francis Carroll, a local businessman and philanthropist.[2]

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.[3][4]

In 2019, a US$1.5 million reconstruction of Francis R. Carroll Plaza began as part of a US$13 million rehabilitation project to improve Main Street. The project added new tables, chairs, decorative lighting, public art, benches, trash cans, and trees.[5] A decorative colonnade 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.[6][7] The reconstruction project was finished in Summer 2023.[4][2]

Francis R. Carroll Plaza in 2010
A fountain in Francis R. Carroll Plaza, with the Hanover Theatre visible in the background
Federal Square in July 2010
A decorative fountain in Francis R. Carroll Plaza, with the Donohue Federal Building visible in the background
Federal Square viewed from Chatam Street in 2010

References

  1. ^ Barnes, George (March 30, 2020). "Federal Square, Worcester". Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Carroll Plaza". The City of Worcester. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Kotsopoulos, Nick (January 16, 2008). "Plaza may be named for Carroll". Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Lemmon, Olivia (July 20, 2023). "Plaza may be named for Carroll". Spectrum News. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  5. ^ Chamer, Jeff A. (July 19, 2023). "Curtain up at last for new Francis Carroll Plaza outside Hanover Theatre downtown". Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "Work begins on Carroll Plaza project". Telegram & Gazette. May 1, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "A new look for Federal Square in Worcester". Telegram & Gazette. July 24, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2024.