Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Ceremony Schedule

April 30 & May 1, 2011 - Emerald Necklace Visitor and Volunteer Center

125 The Fenway | Boston, MA 02115 | Click here for map

All events are free and open to the public.

Click here to download a program brochure with the schedule

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Saturday, April 30

12:00 PM | Ribbon-cutting and Grand Opening ceremony with Mayor Thomas M. Menino and special guests.

12:00 – 3:30 | A very special Art in Bloom floral arrangement inspired by the Back Bay Fens will be on display at the Emerald Necklace Visitor Center.

12:30 – 3:00 | Activities ongoing at the Emerald Necklace Visitor and Volunteer Center:

• 12:30 - 2pm: Meet Frederick Law Olmsted, as portrayed by Gerry Wright
• 12:30 - 2:30pm: Children’s drawing table
• 12:30 - 3:00pm: Park Rangers Mounted Unit “Adopt a Horse” program
• 2:00, 2:30 & 3:00: Screening of “Stories from the Emerald Necklace,” documentary film depicting the variety of visitor stories found in the Necklace.

12:30 – 1:15 | Artist Talk and Demonstration with painter Dustan Knight. Learn about the creative process as Dustan works in watercolors to capture the special Art in Bloom floral arrangement on paper. Read about the artist and view her work at www.dustanknight.com

12:45 – 3:00 | Activities ongoing at the Fenway Victory Gardens (Presented by the Fenway Garden Society)

• Meet the gardeners at “Open Gardens,” Pick up a Victory Garden map at the Visitor Center for a self- guided tour.
• Visit the newly renovated Special Needs Garden. NEU students will be on hand to talk about the project.
• Participate in hands-on workshops at the Fenway Teaching Garden such as: building a box garden; testing and amending soils; growing vegetables from seeds and more.
• For more information visit www.fenwayvictorygardens.com

1:00 – 2:30 | “Garden in the Machine,” an Interpretive Walk through the Back Bay Fens led by Alan Banks, Supervisory Park Ranger, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. (Starts at the Visitor Center)

1:15 – 2:30 | Run the Necklace - Join a fun run with 3, 5 and 7 mile options led by Mark Lowenstein, author of “Great Runs in Boston.” Designed by Mark, the route will start at the Visitor Center, continue along the Necklace out to Jamaica Pond and return to the Visitor Center. Map of the route provided. Bring your own reusable water bottle. Click here to watch Mark in "Stories from the Emerald Necklace."

2:00 – 2:45 | Family Fun Yoga led by Karen Fabian (Location TBD; bring own mats)

3:00 – 5:30 | Events at Blount Auditorium, Wentworth Institute of Technology:

• 3:00 – 4:30: “Frederick Law Olmsted,” a one-man play written and performed by Olmsted portrayer Gerry Wright, followed by a short reception. Sponsored by the Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA) in recognition of "April - Landscape Architecture Month."
• 4:30 – 5:30: “The Olmsted Legacy: America’s Urban Parks,” documentary about Frederick Law Olmsted. It’s the film that premiered in Boston last fall to a sold-out audience at the MFA! Co-sponsored by the Boston Society of Landscape Architects.

3:00 – 3:45 | Bike Ride to Franklin Park with Conservancy president Julie Crockford and City Councilor Mike Ross for the 4:00 pm “Weeds as Feed” walk led by a Franklin Park Coalition naturalist. (Departs from Visitor Center. Return trip departs Franklin Park at conclusion of walk (approx. 5:15pm) and returns to Visitor Center.

4:00 PM | Birds & Bards Festival event at Franklin Park. “Weeds as Feed” walk led by Franklin Park Coalition naturalist. Learn about edible spring plants at Franklin Park. More information at www.franklinparkcoalition.org

Sunday, May 1

11:00 AM | Birds & Bards Festival event at Olmsted Park. Bird Walk led by naturalist Stephen Baird and accompanied by special guest, Frederick Law Olmsted himself! (As portrayed by Gerry Wright) Presented by the Friends of Jamaica Pond. Meet at Daisy Field.

1:00 – 2:30 PM | “A Guided Walk through the Back Bay Fens” led by an Emerald Necklace Conservancy Docent. (Departs from Visitor Center)