Francis R. Carroll Plaza In Worcester Opening After Years In The Works

WORCESTER, MA — A renovation of the plaza in front of the Hanover Theatre in downtown Worcester that has been in the works for years is headed for the finish line: Francis R. Carroll Plaza will have its grand opening on Wednesday.

Work on $3.5 million renovation of the plaza began in late 2021 with an initial completion date of fall 2022. But plans for the renovation date to May 2019, when the city began removing trees, a fountain and colonnade that were part of an existing park on the site. The plaza was a blank asphalt slab for months as the renovation ran into the pandemic in 2020. The triangular plaza between the theater and federal courthouse along Main Street was fenced off for almost two years during construction.

On Wednesday, city officials will celebrate the long-anticipated opening with a dedication ceremony and a live performance of "Fiddler on the Roof" by the Hanover Theatre Conservatory’s Youth Summer Program, food trucks and live music featuring Dan Gabel’s Stoptime Revue and Kimberly Hawkey.

The new plaza is focused on performing arts, with an outdoor stage sponsored by Bank of America for music and performances, public art and seating. The Hanover Theatre will program events at the outdoor space.

The plaza was originally dedicated to Carroll in 2008. Carroll, a Korean War veteran and local philanthropist, is a downtown property owner who has focused on revitalizing the area near the federal courthouse, and helped create the Hanover Theatre after a Showcase Cinemas vacated the building in the late 1990s.

The grand opening for the plaza will begin around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at 551 Main St.