BOSTON—The City of Boston, which is in discussions with a developer to craft a master plan for the seven-acre City Hall Plaza, has issued a Request for Proposals for a partner to work with the city on how to transform the plaza into a civic and tourist destination.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh says that the most recent RFP will be followed by another solicitation for a civic/cultural partner in the future. A release date on that RFP has not been determined. City Hall Plaza in Downtown Boston has approximately 200,000 square feet of programmable space, city officials note.

"The plaza is the front yard for Boston's City Hall, and it has enormous potential to be an engaging and activated civic space," says Mayor Walsh. "We're looking for a partner with an innovative plan to unlock this potential and transform the plaza into a must-see destination for residents and visitors alike. Together, we want to reimagine the plaza as a thriving, healthy and innovative civic space."

Working with the city, the designated partner will have a three-year contract to add new programming elements to complement existing activities on the plaza. The city says it is seeking a detailed and feasible implementation plan. The RFP is deliberately open-ended in an effort to inspire creativity and diversity among respondents, city officials add.

The city issued a separate Request for Qualifications to craft a master plan for City Hall, City Hall Plaza and 26 Court St. The campus plan RFQ was issued on June 8, 2015, and the city is in the process of negotiating a contract with a vendor.

An additional RFP will be released that will seek a partner to operate a civic/cultural entity in City Hall, whose presence would complement the cultural and historic institutions in the area.

The mayor's chief of operations Patrick Brophy will lead and coordinate each process.