CityWorks grew out of the desire from Park Street members to mobilize volunteers for urban ministry. An urban tutoring program was launched in 1992. Additional volunteer partnerships formed soon thereafter, creating an ongoing urban ministry program at Park Street Church.

In 1998, the CityWorks name was given to a missions subcommittee appointed to support these and other grassroots urban ministries in Boston that have relationships with Park Street. Today, the CityWorks ministry organizes and provides prayer support, volunteers and networking to many such ministries.