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Emerald Network — a vision for 250+ miles of seamless shared-use greenway paths connecting Boston and adjacent cities. March 2024 Vol. 7 Issue 1 |
NEWS FROM THE NETWORKThank you for reading the Emerald Network newsletter. 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! Network NewsThe beginning of 2024 has brought busy and successful months for the Emerald Network. Long-time greenway advocacy projects are gaining support and redesigning processes are moving forward. The Dorchester (DOT) Greenway Moves Forward!
Michaela Grenier, our Emerald Network Project Manager, creates seed bombs with children at Boston Open Streets 2023. The Emerald Network is excited to see the Dorchester Greenway move closer to reality! Last month, the City of Boston awarded LivableStreets Alliance a contract to conduct outreach. We will work with our friends at CultureHouse to create events and spread the word about the greenway project. We hope to understand people’s concerns and hopes for the potential future park. A 2023 MassTrails grant partially funds this work. Keep a lookout for the LivableStreets' team in Dorchester throughout the end of 2024. The City of Boston is accepting proposals from firms interested in conducting a feasibility study. This study will analyze the existing tunnel cap to make sure it is structurally sound and to understand weight restrictions. Once completed, the city can begin conversations about what a park on top of the tunnel cap could look like or contain. If you are interested in this opportunity, view the City of Boston’s Request for Proposals here (due March 19th). An enormous “thank you” to many community members and organizations who have carried this project forward for years. Also a big shout out to Seth Daniel, News Editor for the Dorchester Reporter. Click here to read the January piece highlighting the project. We are excited to see this project move forward and to talk more with community members in the coming months! The Southwest Corridor Park Action Plan Moves into the Design Phase
Design recommendations include wider, separate paths for walkers and wheeled users. LivableStreets has been working to update the beloved Southwest Corridor Park. The park opened in 1987 after a hard won battle to stop the creation of a highway. The highway would have been in the current location of the park. This would have severed Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and the South End. It is one of the first examples in the modern U.S. of “people-power” to stop the highway building of the 1950s / 1960s. We have collected feedback on what people love and would change in the park. There is a great deal of support for more trees and realigning the paths to better connect to neighborhoods. People would also like to see walkers separated from folks traveling on wheels. Now the project is moving into the “Design Phase.” The design team has begun to come up with ideas to make the park look and function better. For example, the park was built before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This means the park is hard to navigate for those in wheelchairs or using assisted devices. Ideas to improve the parks include widening paths, installing curb ramps and sidewalks, and choosing smoother materials. The project team presented initial ideas to the public on February 28th in a virtual public meeting. Ideas include adding more trees, a dog park in Jamaica Plain, and matching signs throughout the park. Visit the interactive Storymap to learn more. Partners Doing Amazing WorkEast Coast Greenway Builds Almost 40% of their New Trails in Massachusetts
Photo credit: East Coast Greenway The East Coast Greenway added 11+ miles of trails in MA in 2023. In 2023 the East Coast Greenway built 13 new trail segments. The East Coast Greenway is a 3,000 mile walking and biking route linking Maine to Florida. Massachusetts led the way with five trails added, the highest in any one state. While all of the new trails were located outside Boston, they provide critical connections to the city's greenways. Segments link trails north to New Hampshire, west towards Worcester, and south to Rhode Island. New trails in Sherborn, Holliston, Milford, Bellingham, and Mattapoisett added over 11 miles to the state. Read more about all of the East Coast Greenway’s new 2023 trails on their website. Check out the East Coast Greenway’s map to plan Spring adventures. Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and For Kids Only (FKO) Afterschool Partner for Climate Education Last Fall, MyRWA partnered with For Kids Only Afterschool to teach youth about clean water and their local environment. Students created stormwater drains, bug hotels, and floodplain models using recycled materials. MyRWA taught lessons on ways students can help address the climate crisis in their lives. The program was very successful. MyRWA and For Kids Only will work together in Winthrop, Revere, Everett and Chelsea in the upcoming year. Read more about the partnership on MyRWA’s website. Interested teachers and youth groups can reach out to Watershed Educator Natalia ([email protected]) for additional information. Get Excited for Bay State Bike Month!
Our friends at Massachusetts Bike Coalition (MassBike) are deep in planning for its annual Bike Month in May. The month will be full of events to celebrate the joys of riding on wheels (see below). Check out the Events Calendar for events happening in your community.
Curious about being actively involved? The team is looking for sponsors and community event hosts. The Emerald Network’s trails of 250+ miles of greenways are great locations for a group ride. Art + EventsParticipate in the 2024 Muddy River Cleanup!
The Emerald Necklace Conservancy is hosting their 16th Annual Muddy River Cleanup as a part of the Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup!
Register here to be a part of this year’s cleanup crew for a chance to give back to the community! Sociedad Latina Presents Saturday Music Classes for Youth Are you creative-minded and enjoy artistic activities? Join Sociedad Latina for piano, vocal, guitar, and dance classes every Saturday from March to May! There is a one-time charge of $25 for 10 full weeks.
Register using this link! City of Boston Launches Boston Public Schools Sundays Launched on February 4th, BPS Sundays provides Boston Public Schools’ students and families free access to the six major cultural institutions! These include the Museum of Science, the Franklin Park Zoo, the Boston Children’s Museum, the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Institute of Contemporary Arts.
Learn more about the BPS Sundays Program here and how to participate! OpportunitiesInterested in lending a helping hand? There are many opportunities to volunteer in different roles. View the list below for ways you can get involved!
Job PostingsPlenty of our partners and other organizations are hiring! Check out the list below for some amazing opportunities.
Grants + Project FundingThe City of Boston is now accepting grant applications to community-based organizations to plan and care for trees through the Boston Tree Alliance (BTA) Program. Read more about the background of the program and details to apply here! THANK YOU
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