Advocacy

The Conservancy advocates to preserve and protect the special resources of the Olmsted park system and to recapture its earlier greatness. Along with our Park Overseers - representatives of more than 20 partner organizations – we are working to restore and maintain the parks, improve access to the parks with new signage and physical upgrades to connections between and to the parks at numerous challenging locations.

Get informed and get active on the issues listed below with the click of your mouse:

Massachusetts Bottle Bill Update
Casey Overpass
Jamaica Pond Public Access
Mounted Park Rangers
Archived Advocacy Issues

Massachusetts Bottle Bill Update

Find Your Legislator Here and Tell Them to Support the Updated Bottle Bill

Update: The Bottle Bill and the Economy
By Julia Danahy

Not only will an update to the Bottle Bill help keep our parks clean, it could also give a much-needed boost to our local economy. According to the new report “Returning to Work: Understanding the Domestic Jobs Impacts from Different Methods of Recycling Beverage Containers” by the Container Recycling Institute (CRI), increasing redeemable bottles will provide an increase in business, and therefore employment. Updating the Bottle Bill will jumpstart this process by adding modern beverage bottles (such as water bottles and sports drink bottles) to Massachusetts’ container deposit-return program.

Click here to continue reading...

The Casey Overpass

Update: How long will the process be delayed?
By Julia Danahy

As January quickly comes to an end, there is still no decision, or even an announced deadline, for the reconstruction design of the Casey Overpass in Jamaica Plain. The debate between raising a new bridge versus an at-grade solution continues with no end in sight. The initial deadline for selection of the project design was December 12, 2011 but the alternative has yet to be specified. The robust public process has lasted over nine months. The time has come to move forward and keep the project on track for completion in 2016.

Click here to continue reading...

Jamaica Pond Public Access

The new pedestrian activated crossing light at Eliot Street is a hit with families, joggers, bicyclists and dog-walkers. Thank you to everyone who participated in the public process that led to excellent work by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to complete the project. The Conservancy will continue to advocate for funding for the Kelley Circle and Parkman Memorial crossings to the Pond.

Click here to read more about the history of this project.

Boston Park Rangers Continue Patrols Atop Their Magnificent Mounts: Come to Jacob Wirth’s on March 5 to support the campaign

It’s party time March 5th at Jacob Wirth’s. Come support the Boston Park Rangers and enjoy a night of cocktails and hor d’ourves. Tickets are $100 in advance and $125 at the door. There will be live music and a raffle--with all proceeds going to support the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit. For more information or to purchase your tickets, please contact Ashley Helie at 617-522-2700.

Background: Emerald Necklace Conservancy advocates sprang into action in 2009 to save the mounted unit of the Boston Park Rangers. Since that time more than $400,000 has been raised to keep the Park Rangers in the saddle and to support the seasonal Park Rangers who patrol the parks from Boston Common to Franklin Park. Working in collaboration with the Friends of the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit private fund raising continues for this important public safety initiative. We are grateful to the hundreds of people who have contributed and invite you to add your support today. Contributions of every amount will help. To date we’ve received gifts ranging from $5 to $25,000.

On behalf of the donors, I signed the third Memo of Understanding with Commissioner Antonia Pollak for FY 2013 to provide $155,000 in funding. To fulfill this commitment, we’re working with the Friends to raise $50,000 by April 30th. For more information about the Friends of the Boston Park Ranger’s Mounted Unit or to make a donation, please visit www.savebostonshorses.org

Archived Advocacy Issues

In this section you will find bills, issues, and events that the Emerald Necklace Conservancy has supported in the past. Click here to read more about the Carlton Street Footbridge, the Transportation Bill, and the "Pitch the City" Contest.