City of Worcester, MA

Worcester Issues Request for Interest to Operate Rockland Trust Plaza

For Immediate Release: 5/8/2024 3:38 pm

WORCESTER, Mass. – The City of Worcester has issued a Request for Interest to operate the Rockland Trust Plaza, an 18,500 square-foot parcel that connects Worcester’s Downtown and Canal District neighborhoods.

Located at 45 Green St., the Rockland Trust Plaza is adjacent to Polar Park and the planned mixed-use development of more than 1,000 units of housing, 200,000 square feet of office space, 150,000 square feet of retail space, and a hotel.

The site of the Plaza was formerly utilized as a municipal parking lot with 47 off-street parking spaces. The Worcester Redevelopment Authority (WRA) constructed a new public green space that serves as the connection between the two contiguous neighborhoods and the northern gateway to Polar Park.

The Plaza was envisioned and planned as a flexible outdoor venue and gateway with opportunities for pre-game meetups, entertainment, food options, pop-up retail, community, and arts events.

The WRA site preparation and construction activities included the removal of the existing pavement, installation of concrete sidewalks with granite curbs, installation of various streetscapes and appurtenances for placemaking, and ADA accessibility. The WRA also installed new landscaping, lighting, and utilities including irrigation, electrical and plumbing, a water feature, and infrastructure to support outdoor programming. The Plaza contributes toward the safety, economic vitality, and quality of life in Worcester by facilitating access to neighborhoods and commercial areas, as well as improving universal access for all users.

The municipality has the following goals and visions for Rockland Trust Plaza:

1.  Serve as a pedestrian gateway to the northern entrance of Polar Park.
2. Serve as a dynamic, creative public place for leisure activities and family entertainment.
3. Provide amenities, including limited food and beverage opportunities for visitors.
4. Provide opportunities for pop-up retail and serve as a launch pad for new business startups.
5. Host arts, cultural, and community events, as well as programs and shows.

This Request for Interest seeks to identify an operator to execute the vision, management, programming, and placemaking of Rockland Trust Plaza.

Letters of Interest are due at the City of Worcester Executive Office of Economic Development, 455 Main Street-Room 402, Worcester, Mass. 01608 no later than Friday, June 7, 2024, at 10 a.m.

Link to the full Request for Interest here.