Emerald Network — a vision for 250 miles of seamless shared-use greenway paths connecting Boston and adjacent cities.

August 2022 Vol. 5 Issue 3

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NEWS FROM THE NETWORK

Thank you for being a dedicated reader of our newsletter. As the summertime comes to a close and we prepare for autumn, there are still plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and take advantage of the warm weather by spending time in your local greenways! We enjoy curating the latest greenway news, stories, and events from around the region and in your backyard. Help continue to grow the Network by forwarding this issue to a friend and encouraging them to subscribe today!

The Emerald Network Team is Changing!

Ambar is Leaving the Network

After three years of dedication to stewarding the Emerald Network, Program Director Ambar Johnson will be leaving her position at LivableStreets. In her next chapter she will spend time writing as one of 20 fellows for the third cohort of the Yale Public Voices Fellowship on the Climate Crisis! We are proud of Ambar as she takes this next step and look forward to seeing her amazing contributions, as she brings her skills and talents for planning, mobility, and team building to a new environment. Though we are sad to see her go, we will surely see her impact in other communities and celebrate the time we have shared!

Saying Goodbye to Our Summer Fellow

This summer, Olivia Poston has served as an invaluable member of the Emerald Network Team. As the Community Engagement and Emerald Network GIS Fellow, Olivia has synthesized an overwhelming amount of data to illuminate the current state of Boston’s greenways. She has updated our maps to show newly constructed greenways, visions for the future, and well loved community assets. These efforts are particularly helpful for our priority projects along the Charles River, Dot Greenway, and Columbia Road. 

Working with Olivia has been a joy and we are excited to see what meaningful ecological challenges she tackles as a Masters of Design student at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. Olivia’s maps will be published to the Emerald Network resources page soon.

More Updates from the Network

Photo credit: Olmsted Now

Congratulations to Olmsted Now’s Park Equity and Spatial Justice Grant Winners!

Olmsted Now- Greater Boston’s Olmsted Bicentennial- has announced 16 grant winners who will implement public art projects throughout Boston’s parks and public spaces. Projects will be spread throughout more than 10 neighborhoods and center issues of shared use, shared health, and shared power. View the winning proposals here.

Join us for Tour de Streets 2022!

LivableStreets is hosting our 13th annual Tour de Streets on September 10th (rain date of September 18th) at the Charles River Speedway in Allston! This event is free to all and we invite everyone to join us for a walk, bike, or simply to celebrate. We will have a short family ride and a longer ride for adults, as well as a walk led by Emerald Network Project Manager, Abby Jamiel. We have plenty of fun activities planned to celebrate our local trails and greenspaces. Explore neighborhoods from Brighton to Cambridge in new ways while making some friends! You can register or donate for the event on our registration page. And if you want to get even more biking in this season, continue reading for more opportunities!

Partners Doing Amazing Work!

Photo credit: Abby Jamiel

Mary Ellen Welch Greenway Gets A New Coat of Paint!

In late July, Civic Space Collaborative and the Trustees Waterfront Ambassador’s youth employment program repainted the colorful mural at the Gove Street crossing on the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway.  Emerald Network Project Manager Abby Jamiel was pleased to lend a hand! 

The mural was originally painted as part of a design challenge hosted by the Friends of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway and the Boston Society of Landscape Architects. In 2019, community members voted for the current design, named TIES, which was created by Toole Design.

Bikes Not Bombs 35th Annual Bike-A-Thon!

Our partners are hosting their 35th Annual Bike-A-Thon on September 11th – a bike ride for social change. This is a great opportunity to get more biking in after Tour de Streets! They have a variety of bike routes set up, ranging from 10 to 100 miles! There are stops planned for food breaks and rest time, also lots of amazing views to stop and see. Register for the event here!

Events

Photo credit: bluebikes.com

Visit Us at Open Streets Boston – We Want To Hear From You

Are you as excited as we are for Open Streets Boston? On September 24th, LivableStreets Alliance will be hosting fun interactive activities at the Dorchester Avenue Open Streets, in partnership with Culture House, the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, and Greater Ashmont Main Streets. These activities will let us hear your ideas on the Dot Greenway project. Stop by to play games and meet new friends in your neighborhood.

Can’t wait until September? The next Open Street Boston event will be held this Saturday, August 6th from 9am–3pm. Blue Hill Avenue, which will be shut down to vehicle traffic between Warren and Dudley Street for free, family-friendly events. Please come ready to stroll, bike, roll, and connect with neighbors and businesses. If you’re biking from Downtown Boston or Roslindale, join the Boston Cyclist Union’s Neighborhood Convoy to Open Streets.

Magazine Park – Summer Nights with DCR + more!

Looking to spend more time in your local community? Magazine Beach in Cambridge has plenty of opportunities for you to get outdoors! Every Friday through August 26th, from 5-8pm, the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation will be hosting guided tours on kayaks around the Charles. Learn more about your local river’s ecosystem and enjoy a night on the Charles. For more events at Magazine Beach, check out their website for exciting summer nights!

Spend Summer Nights Cooling Down by the Waterfront

Looking for ways to catch a cool breeze this summer? Boston Harbor Now is hosting events on various waterfronts around Boston, with opportunities to celebrate these spaces. A variety of events will be offered including yoga, camping, cooking, tai chi, dancing, and much more! Check out their events page to find an activity that is appealing to you!

Don’t miss NACTO’s Annual Conference…in Boston This Year!

The National Association of City Transportation Officials is hosting their 10th annual conference from September 7th through the 10th––Designing Cities 2022: Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville. Aiming to advance the state of transportation in cities, they will be hosting over 40 Workshops sharing information on a variety of topics. It will also be their first in-person gathering since the last conference in Toronto, Canada. They have plenty of exciting events planned, so make sure to register on their page here!

Olmsted Now Public Dialogue: Shared Power + Local Youth

Olmsted Now- Greater Boston’s Olmsted Bicentennial- will be hosting its 8th Public Dialogue on August 17th from 6-7 pm. Registration is available via this link. This conversation will center the nature of power and will be led by youth who have spent the summer stewarding the park’s lands. Olmstead Now’s Public Dialogue series is held on the third Wednesday of each month at 6pm.

The larger Olmsted Now calendar of events can be found here.

Opportunities + Community Support

Photo credit: Ammi Hosur

Lend a Hand + Volunteer for Tour de Streets

We are in the process of planning our annual fundraising event at the Charles River Speedway(pictured above)! We have plenty of fun activities planned – biking, walking, a celebration, and more. But we could use a few extra hands! If you’re interested in volunteering and being a part of our work, please email [email protected]. We are grateful for all the support we can get and hope you’ll consider this opportunity, or simply register and join the fun :)

Project Manager, Transit + Streets

LivableStreets is looking to expand our team! We are on the search to fill the position of a Transit + Streets Project Manager to help move our advocacy forward across all of our programs. This position will include both internal and external facing roles, working to advance critical transportation issues, and projects working with local communities, with the goals of supporting their needs and amplifying their voices. You can view the full job description here. Applications are due August 8th!

Volunteer for the Boston Nature Center Sanctuary Committee

Do you enjoy the outdoors and wildlife sanctuaries? Mass Audubon, New England’s largest nature-based conservation organization, is looking for volunteers to help promote and assist the Boston Nature Center. This position involves participation in the Sanctuary Committee meetings and assistance with different parts of the work they do. Learn more about the position and apply here!

Boston Parks and Recreation is Looking For Feedback

Have 5 minutes? Boston Parks and Recreation has created a quick survey to solicit feedback about how their programs can better suit your needs and desires. If you’re looking for ways to be active, the department offers a Parks Summer Fitness Series with both in person and virtual events.

THANK YOU