The 15 Ward Street Pocket Park transformed an unsafe dumping site into a vibrant small urban park. Publicos Studio led the community engagement process for this project, which directly informed the design and resulted in the addition of a half basketball court. The project was funded by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Salem Community Preservation Act, and the City of Salem's CDBG program, with design by Michelle Crowley Landscape Architecture and Boscardin Consulting Engineers and construction by Anderson Landscape Construction.

A unique component of the renovation was the replication of two large murals on the buildings abutting the park. Originally painted by community members in the late 1990s, the murals were faithfully restored and replicated by Oliver Brothers Fine Art Restoration and Conservation in 2015. The park also features a striking mural by renowned Italian artist Pixel Pancho, adding to its vibrant artistic identity.

In 2018, we partnered with the Peabody Essex Museum and New Craft Artists in Action to bring Tormenta en la Cancha to the park — a stunning art installation painted on the court by artist Maria Molteni.

Today, the park has become one of the most used open spaces by children in the neighborhood, a testament to the power of community-driven design in shaping beloved public spaces.