Mike Ross explains why he wants to put a restaurant in the middle of the Common

Councilor Ross explains what he and councilors LaMattina and Linehan are thinking up for Boston Common, which they say deserves to be not just America's oldest park, but it's greatest:

... The proposal that I'm most excited about is the establishment of a restaurant on the park. Our vision is a popular eatery that entices a diverse and vibrant crowd. When our Committee visited New York City, we saw two sites that were intriguing models for the Common: The Shake Shack at Madison Park, which serves $7 hamburgers and draws huge lines; and the Boathouse at Central Park, which provides a cafeteria, indoor and outdoor bar, and moderately priced restaurant, all with a great view.

There are several ideal locations for this establishment that will be presented in the report. We see great opportunity in this effort for improvements in the park, the neighborhood, and the city as a whole. A restaurant provides benefits by increasing year-round, late-evening traffic on the Common, which has a positive impact on crime in the area, and helps reinvigorate the neighborhood. ...

Kevin McCrea, meanwhile, provides the opposing viewpoint, at least when it comes to creating a conservancy for the Common.