Charitable Foundation Donates $3M To Martin Richard Park Project
BOSTON (CBS) -- It was Martin Richard's message of peace that inspired the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation to donate $3 million for the park and playground to be built next to the Boston Children's Museum.
Richard, 8, was one of three people killed in the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013.
The Newton-based foundation has already funded the waterfront plaza where the Hood Milk Bottle currently stands.
"It's just a key location," says Lynne Doblin, executive director of the foundation.
"The thought there was it requires a very, very special kind of park to bring people together from across the city and across the region."
The Martin Richard Foundation is working to fund the project, and organizers anticipate holding a groundbreaking ceremony in the fall.
The project is expected to be completed sometime in 2017.
The City of Boston has also applied for grants to help pay for the project.
To make a donation to the project, text the word "MARTIN" to 91999 or visit the Martin Richard Foundation's website.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz reports