As part of ongoing efforts to bring art and literature into the public realm, the City is embarking on a pilot program in 2019 to stamp up to 10 selected poems into the concrete of newly constructed sidewalks throughout the City’s Villages.

Thank you to everyone who submitted poems.

One hundred and forty Newton residents submitted poems for the contest. Six judges selected 10 that will be used to bring poems off the pages of books and into our everyday lives. Congratulations to the winning poets who include two Newton students, published poets and a number of new ones.

You will soon be able to read Trace by Shelby Allen, An Ordinary Day by Jane Attanucci, Presence by Sabrina Elyse Bauer, This Quiet Way by Ben Berman, Young Heart by Meaghan Cocuzzo, Every Day Is a Poem by Susan Eyre Coppack, Spring by Nancy Genevieve, Community Conversation by Cynthia Greene, Sidewalk by Mark Hemment, and The Way They Grew by Jonas Pena.

City of Newton in partnership with Newton Community Pride will receive a Mass Development "Commonwealth Places" grant for this project because we successfully raised $7,500 through a crowdfunding campaign with Patronicity. The grant provides a 50-50 match for crowdfunded donations to support placemaking projects throughout Massachusetts.

Crowdfunding Successful!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the crowdfunding campaign! We reached our goal!

The City of Newton and Newton Community Pride thank you for your help to make this project a reality. Every donation will be matched dollar for dollar. Together we raised $7,500!

Project Contact

Shubee Sikka, Urban Designer, Planning Department, ssikka@newtonma.gov or 617-796-1139.

Thank you to Grey Held, Artistic Director and creator of this project. Thank you to Newton Community Pride, project partner. Thank you to the following for support in project planning: Cambridge Cultural Council Isenberg Projects City of Boston, Arts and Culture Mass Poetry Public Art Saint Paul

Thank you to MassDevelopment and the Newton community for funding this project.