• The Emerald Necklace Conservancy

Conservancy Accomplishments

The Conservancy celebrated its 15th anniversary on May 14, 2013. More than 250 people gathered under the tent to celebrate the Conservancy’s milestone and honor longtime volunteers as Park Champions. The first-ever Olmsted Award of Excellence was presented to Sarah Freeman.

Restoration of the Historic Stony Brook Gatehouse to become the Shattuck Emerald Necklace Visitor Center and the conservancy’s office in the Back Bay Fens. The conservancy raised $1.25 million to renovate the vacant H.H. Richardson-designed building, bringing it to life with Visitor Services and free park tours and welcoming over 3,000 visitors a year since its opening in January 2011.

The Justine Mee Liff Fund for the Emerald Necklace, led by an all-volunteer committee, has raised over $4.5 million for the Emerald Necklace through proceeds from Party in the Park, Boston’s premier spring garden party.

Emerald Necklace Youth Leadership and Green Team Program provides environmental education, leadership training and “real work” in the parks to underserved urban teens through coveted summer and after-school jobs. One of our most important investments on behalf of the park and the environment, these youth and those they influence will be the next generation of environmental stewards.

Emerald Necklace Maintenance Collaborative workforce development initiative provides vocational training in landscaping to men in the corrections system who then staff dedicated maintenance crews in the parks.

Summer on the Emerald Necklace (formerly Summer Sundays in the Park) brings neighbors and families of all ages into the park for free family concerts, movies and lawn games at Jamaica Pond and Olmsted Park on summer evenings.

Circle The City: Held in 2012, 2013 and 2014, Open Streets, Open Parks created the opportunity for neighbors to walk, bike, roll, dance and play together through car-free streets connecting our parks. Boston’s first Open Streets initiative brought people to parks, built community and promoted safe physical activity and healthy lifestyles for a vibrant, livable city.

Restoration of the Kelleher Rose Garden Fountain and Statuary, a $550,000 restoration project based on original designs that capped off a multi-year full garden restoration which is maintained weekly by our Tuesdays with Roses volunteer group.

Where am I? Emerald Necklace Park Signage and the Interpretive Map and Guide features a one-of-a-kind, full-color map of the entire Emerald Necklace park system and is installed on signage outside the Shattuck Visitor Center and is available in print in English, Spanish and online.

Volunteer Park Docent Program gives regular interpretive tours and presentations through and about the Emerald Necklace, highlighting its unique history, features and structures.

Olmsted Park Woodlands Maintenance and Management restoration project features a maintenance plan and demonstration project for woodlands restoration in an urban park.

Conservancy Volunteers in the Park have donated over 85,000 hours, valued at $2.3 million since the program began.

Mailing Address

350 Jamaicaway, Boston, MA 02130

Shattuck Visitor Center

125 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115



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