About this Project:

Abolition Row Park in New Bedford, designed by Heather Heimarck and Barbara Connolly, is a community-driven project spearheaded by the New Bedford Historical Society President Lee Blake. Opened in June 2023, the park honors the city’s role in the Abolitionist movement, highlighted by a statue of Frederick Douglass as a young man escaping slavery. Funded through grants, municipal support, and community contributions, the park serves as a space to reflect on New Bedford’s historic contributions to civil rights.