Through the efforts of urban park pioneers Frederick Law Olmsted and Charles Eliot, Boston has a rich legacy of linear parks and greenways, but they were never finished. The Emerald Network builds on this portfolio of 100 miles of greenways to create a seamless 200-mile network across the urban core, from the Mystic River in the north to the Neponset River in the south. Check out some of these completed paths and the organizations that are working to protect and enhance them below.

Charles River Paths: This popular network of mixed-use paths traces both shores of the Charles River, stretching from Boston to Watertown. The greenways and parklands are maintained and enhanced by the Esplanade Association, Charles River Conservancy and the Department of Conservation and Recreation(DCR). (photo:DCR)

East Boston Greenway: This 3-mile pedestrian/bike path and linear park runs through the heart of East Boston and provides a buffer along the Logan Airport edge. (photo: Brown, Richardson & Rowe)

Emerald Necklace: Located in the heart of Boston and Brookline, the historic Emerald Necklace park system consists of more than 1,200 acres of open space and a network of paths stretching from Back Bay to Dorchester. (photo: Emerald Necklace Conservancy)

Somerville Community Path: This 0.8 mile paved, mixed-use path runs from Lowell Street to the Alewife Linear Park via Davis Square. The Friends of the Community Path are advocating to extend the existing path to complete a 2.2 mile greenway as part of the Green Line Extension project. (photo: City of Somerville)

Southwest Corridor: This 4.7-mile, 50-acre park is sited along the MBTA's Orange Line transit corridor and serves 130,000 residents and commuters. (photo: masspaths.org)