ALL GIFTS CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN HERITAGE PARK
Mar 31, 2010
An architectural rendering of the park
More than 35 Massachusetts Armenian-American parishes and organizations
are represented on the foundation’s Board of Directors.
"Although we will remain focused on securing lead and major
gifts," he continued. "We are now asking everyone to support this
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We are encouraging gifts at all
levels of support. Children are being encouraged to support it and
participate. Parishes and organizations are being asked to schedule
presentations that will speak to the importance of supporting Armenian
Heritage Park."
Brochures with sponsor forms will be available at all parishes and
organizations. There are two ways to support: By check, made payable
to Armenian Heritage Foundation, and mailed to Charles Guleserian,
Armenian Heritage Foundation, 25 Flanders Road, Belmont, MA 02478
or online at All contributions
are tax-deductible.
Serving on the All-Gifts Committee Planning Committee are George
Elanjian, chair; Judy Talanian Shagoury, vice chair; Tatoul Badalian,
Haig Deranian, Charles Guleserian, James Kalustian, Walter Nahabedian,
Harold Partamian and Barbara Tellalian. The committee is depending
on the involvement and support of everyone.
Construction is slated to begin this year, reported Kalustian, the
foundation’s president, at the recent board meeting. "We are making
extraordinary progress," he said. "As of February, 90 percent of the
construction and engineering documents have been completed by the
design team. The plans are presently being reviewed by the various
city, state and federal agencies."
Armenian Heritage Park is gift to the City of Boston and the
Commonwealth from Massachusetts Armenian-Americans.
Recognized as one of the better designed parks, Armenian Heritage Park
is consistent with one of the themes of the Greenway: to acknowledge
the history of Boston as a port of entry for immigrants worldwide
and those who have immigrated to our shores and contributed to the
richness of American life and culture.
A link between Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Christopher Columbus Park
on four-tenths of an acre on parcel 13 on the Greenway, Armenian
Heritage Park has received overwhelming support from neighboring
community groups in Boston’s North End and Wharf District as well as
many of Boston’s civic, community and political leaders.
Armenian Heritage Park includes lawns, benches, fountains, shade
trees as well as a labyrinth and sculpture, both to engage and delight
children and adults.
The labyrinth, a circular winding path in grass and inlaid stone with
a single jet of water at its center, is symbolic of life’s journey
and will celebrate achievements in art, science, commerce and service.
The sculpture, a twelve-sided abstract geometric sculpture – a split
rhombic dodecahedron – rests on a 16-foot diameter reflecting pool to
commemorate lives lost in the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 and all
genocides that have followed and to celebrate those who left their
country of origin and reconfigured their lives in this country in
new and different ways. The waters of the reflecting pool wash over
its sides commemorating lives lost and re-emerges as the single jet
of water at the labyrinth’s center, representing hope and rebirth.
Annually, the sculpture will be reconfigured to commemorate lives
lost and to celebrate all who came to these shores and reinvented
themselves in creative and new ways. The annual reconfiguration with
endless changing views will also bring wonder and delight.
Also, annually, an endowed lecture on human rights in collaboration
with the Bostonian Society will be held at Faneuil Hall, featuring
internationally-recognized scholars and leaders. The series is fully
endowed by one of a philanthropic families.
Endowed funds are also being established to support the care
and maintenance of the park in perpetuity as well as the annual
reconfiguration of the Sculpture.
For information on the limited number of sponsorship/naming
opportunities at the park, call or e-mail James Kalustian (781)
777-2407, [email protected]; Charles Guleserian (617) 484-6100,
[email protected]; Haig Deranian (617) 484-2215, [email protected] or
Walter Nahabedian (781)891-7249, [email protected].
For information, call or e-mail Chairman George Elanjian (781)
888-2227, [email protected] or visit