Central Square, East Boston facts for kids
Central Square is a lively area in the East Boston part of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It's a busy spot where several streets meet, like Bennington Street and Meridian Street. This square is a central hub for the community. It's also very close to the Sumner Tunnel, which is a road that drivers use to get to downtown Boston.
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Learning and Reading
Central Square is home to important places for learning and fun.
Mario Umana Middle School Academy
The Mario Umana Middle School Academy is the main school in Central Square. It's located at 312 Border Street and is part of the Boston Public Schools. A cool feature of the school is the Harborside Community Skatepark, which is the only official skate park in the neighborhood!
East Boston Branch Library
Did you know that the first public branch library in the United States was built right here in Central Square? It opened in 1870. Today, the Boston Public Library's East Boston branch is still a popular place for books and learning. You can find it at 276 Meridian Street.
Fun Places to Visit
Central Square has many interesting spots and events for everyone to enjoy.
Italia Unita Festival
Every year, Central Square hosts the exciting Italia Unita festival. During this event, the square is closed off for a big celebration. You can enjoy live music and try delicious food from many different carts. It's a great time for the community to come together!
Liberty Plaza Shopping Center
The Lombardo family helped create a major shopping area in Central Square. They started with a place for events called Lombardo's Function Facility. This grew into what is now known as Liberty Plaza, a popular shopping center. They also opened a large grocery store called Liberty Market. Even though the family moved their business in 2000, Liberty Plaza is still a busy place today.
At the entrance to Liberty Plaza, there's a small park called Bertulli Park, also known as Central Square Park. It also works as a traffic circle. Today, Liberty Plaza has many stores like CVS Pharmacy, Marshalls, Sprint, AutoZone, and Shaw's Supermarket. There are also places to eat, such as McDonald's and Pollo Campero.
Trinity Neighborhood House
The Trinity Neighborhood House is a historic brick building located at 406 Meridian Street. Since 1888, it served as a community center, supported by Trinity Church. In 1966, the East Boston Social Centers took over its operations. This building has a long history of helping people in the community. In 1981, it was recognized as a landmark by the Boston Landmarks Commission. It was later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992, showing its importance to the area's history.