“It might be nice to have quotes from Rodney Barker etched in the pavement.”
Karen Fitzgerald, Toole Design
Community members gathered on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Linda Plaut Arts & Culture Center at Brigham House, to hear the latest plans for improving the Newton Highlands business district.
The project goals are as follows:
- Update sidewalks and roadways to improve accessibility and safety for all users
- Provide thriving community spaces for residents, businesses, and visitors
- Beautify the area with art, benches, lighting, historic markers, and landscaping
- Activate and enhance infrastructure including best managment practices for stormwater mitigation, phosphorus reduction, and sustainability
The plan is to upgrade Rodney Barker Square and the following four intersections:
- Lincoln at Bowdoin
- Lincoln at Hartford
- Walnut at Floral
- Walnut at Station
A second community session is planned for November. Construction should begin in spring 2027.
The roadway improvements are being designed by Apex Engineering, and Rodney Barker Square is being designed by Toole Design.
Point people for the City of Newton include John Rice, chief of community services, and Shawna Sullivan, commissioner of Public Works. A working group appointed by former mayor Ruthanne Fuller is overseeing the process.
