Mayor Thomas Koch's office said the portion of Hancock Street between City Hall Plaza and the Church of Presidents is scheduled to close permanently to traffic on Friday, June 24 at 9 p.m. Concurrently, Washington Street and Temple Street will open to two-way traffic.

Driving through Quincy Center will change drastically in two weeks when the city closes a portion of a heavily-traveled road, making room for a new public park.

Mayor Thomas Koch’s office said the portion of Hancock Street between City Hall Plaza and the Church of Presidents is scheduled to close permanently to traffic on Friday, June 24 at 9 p.m. Concurrently, Washington Street and Temple Street will open to two-way traffic.

This means motorists heading south on Hancock Street through Quincy Square will need to take Washington Street then Temple Street to reconnect with Hancock Street on the other side of the church.

The traffic-pattern alteration is last stage of a $7.9 million, mostly state-funded project that started two years ago and is known as the transportation phase of a plan to build a new downtown park called Adams-Hancock Green. The park will run between City Hall Plaza, the Church of Presidents and Hancock Cemetery.

The transportation project, carried out by general contractor A.R. Belli, has widened sidewalks, re-paved roads, planted new trees and installed traffic and pedestrian lights, including new fixtures in front of the entranceway to the Quincy Center MBTA station. The project has also snarled traffic and frustrated some downtown businesses with intermittent road closures, lane diversions and the elimination of parking spaces.

The first phase of the park project recently got underway this spring and will include underground utility work – the installation of new water, drainage and electrical services – and some above-ground landscaping upgrades, including a temporary park on the discontinued portion of Hancock Street and some work directly in front of city hall.

The work in front of city hall will feature a new “Walk of Names” with engraved bricks containing the same personal inscriptions that were part of the original walk when it was built over 20 years ago.

The first phase of the park project, also being carried out by A.R. Belli, is being funded by a $4.2 million state grant.

Christopher Walker, a spokesman for Koch, said the temporary park will include green space and walkways that will be open to the public sometime this summer. But he emphasized that this layout and design will not be the final product.

Walker said the creation of the final product – the second phase of the park project – is expected to start next year. This will include new green space, walkways, a water fountain and public art, including new bronze sculptures of John Adams and John Hancock.

The city is currently pursuing various sources of funding, including financing through the state’s Infrastructure Investment Incentive Program, or I-Cubed, to finance the second phase, which has been estimated to cost about $20 million.

City leaders hope the park will enliven a long-stagnant area and help attract private development to a revitalized Quincy Center. The park will also highlight the city’s rich history, considering two former presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, and their wives, are entombed in the basement of the Church of Presidents.