The Emerald Necklace Conservancy

2021 Annual Meeting
2021-05-06 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | MA
Join us to learn about the Conservancy’s tree care program and why a healthy urban tree canopy is essential to our city.
Conservancy President Karen Mauney-Brodek will share an update about our work over this past year. We’ll dive a bit deeper into our tree and landscape work with Erica Holm, the Conservancy’s Field Operations Coordinator. Erica will explain the work we’ve completed so far during the first seven-year tree pruning cycle of our Tree Inventory, Assessment and Management Plan, and where we hope to go in the future.
Dr. Jim Clark, the Managing Consulting Arborist for Hort Science | Bartlett Consulting and an internationally renowned arborist, will join us to speak about how this kind of tree care is beneficial for the long-term health of the tree canopy, for the humans interacting with it and for the environment.
To close out the event, we will be joined by an expert panel to discuss the importance of a healthy tree canopy from the perspective of the tree canopy and the nearby environment, direct human interaction in an urban environment and the broader public health impacts a tree canopy (or lack thereof) can have on the surrounding community.

ESSENTIAL: Public Health, Public Space, & the Design of Boston's Big Parks
2021-05-04 15:00 - 16:00 | MA
Join leaders in landscape architecture & public health in a discussion about the past, present, and future of open space in Boston.

Register for this event here.

Now, more than ever, parks are essential infrastructure. Supporting physical and mental health, enhancing human and ecological resilience, offering places to protest and spaces to heal, parks have played vital roles during this past pandemic year – and will in the years to come. Rather fortuitously, Boston is currently renovating its three largest open spaces: Boston Common, Franklin Park, and Moakley Park. As part of Boston Design Week, join the landscape architects and public health experts designing these projects in a discussion about the past, present, and future of open space in Boston and beyond.

Charlesgate Park Tour – Boston Design Week (4:00PM)
2021-05-01 16:00 - 17:00 | MA
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a tour of Charlesgate Park as part of Boston Design Week.
Charlesgate is the start of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace. We hope you’ll join us to learn about the park’s history, as well as present restoration efforts designed to repair park access issues, improve the water quality of Muddy River and create new park amenities.
The tour will be led by Parker James from the Charlesgate Alliance. A rain date for this tour is set for May 8, 2021 at 4:00PM.

Charlesgate Park Tour - Boston Design Week (1:00PM)
2021-05-01 13:00 - 14:30 | MA
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a tour of Charlesgate Park as part of Boston Design Week.
Charlesgate is the start of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace. We hope you’ll join us to learn about the park’s history, as well as present restoration efforts designed to repair park access issues, improve the water quality of Muddy River and create new park amenities.
The tour will be led by Parker James from the Charlesgate Alliance. A rain date for this tour is set for May 8, 2021 at 1:00PM.

Arbor Week Tree Giveaway
2021-04-28 09:00 - 2021-04-29 18:00 | James Michael Curley House, 350 Jamaicaway, Boston, MA, 02130, United States
Plant a tree for Arbor Day!
In celebration of Arbor Week, we are pleased to partner with Speak for the Trees to give away tree saplings at the Conservancy’s Curley House offices. Stop by the parking lot, behind the Curley House, to pick up a White Oak, Bur Oak, Persimmon, Frasier Fir, or Sweetgum. Please note: parking is not available onsite, but there is street parking nearby. Enter on foot from Moraine Street. Special thanks to Speak for the Trees for making this giveaway possible.
Pick up dates and times (rain or shine):
Wednesday, April 28, 9am-1pm
Thursday, April 29, 2pm-6pm
Trees must be planted on private property.

Olmsted Now: Greater Boston's Olmsted Bicentennial Community Open House
2021-04-26 18:30 - 20:00 | MA
Register for this event here!
April 26 will be the 199th birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted, whose Brookline firm designed parks in Boston and beyond for our shared use, shared health and shared power. Olmsted’s vision — to make public open space better for all — grows more historically significant and more urgent every day. 2022 will not only bring Olmsted’s bicentennial, but also OUR opportunity to actively shape a shared vision for a more equitable, verdant and vibrant city.
As organizers of Olmsted Now: Greater Boston’s Olmsted Bicentennial, the Olmsted National Historic Site (steward of his Brookline firm), the Emerald Necklace Conservancy (steward of his park system across Boston) and our growing coalition of over 50 partners join in welcoming YOU to this virtual Community Open House.
Learn more about Olmsted’s public work — spanning journalism and abolition, public health and emergency relief, urban planning and natural preservation against privatization — and why, 200 years later, Greater Boston and other cities around the country will host initiatives that reanimate Olmsted’s ideals. Hear about our values and goals for Olmsted Now, meet our amazing partners, share your park stories and ideas, discover great resources, upcoming events and many ways to get involved!
For more information, visit www.olmstednow.org.

Walk: Useful Plants Among Us
2021-04-24 10:00 - 11:30 | Valley Gates Parking Lot, Boston, MA, United States
There are helpful and even edible plants all around us, especially in springtime. Learn how to identify and use helpful plants that grow in the wild on a leisurely stroll along Franklin Park’s Valley Gates with Pam Kristan, author and wild food practitioner. Find out what is growing, where, when, which parts are edible or useful for other purposes, and preparation techniques.
Free; Donations to the Emerald Necklace Conservancy gratefully accepted.
Note: This tour is educational. No plants will be harvested or eaten. Plants in Public Parks are not for harvesting. Covid safety protocols will be observed during the walk.
This event has reached its capacity. Please email kjackson@emeraldnecklace.org to join the wait list.

Tour of the Muddy River Restoration
2021-04-21 14:30 - 15:30 | MA
This tour is at capacity. To join the waitlist, please contact Jamie Santuccio at jsantuccio@emeraldnecklace.org.
Are you curious about what is going on in the Emerald Necklace behind those temporary fences?
Join the Conservancy on a tour of Phase 2 of the Muddy River Restoration in the Back Bay Fens restoration area with the US Army Corps of Engineers and Charter Construction. You will learn about why the Muddy River Restoration project is so important and specifics about how the restoration work is being done. The tour will be led by members of the Army Corps and Charter Contracting Company and will remain outside of the construction fencing for the safety of attendees.
Please note that space is limited to 10 guests and registration is required. We will be conducting the tour in accordance with COVID-19 safety requirements which include social distancing and face masks at all times. You will receive information about the tour meeting location in the registration email confirmation.
Please note: In case of inclement weather, this tour will be held on Thursday, April 22 at 2:30 pm. A switch to the rain date will be determined by 10:00 am the day of the event and will be communicated via email.

Muddy River Cleanup 2021
2021-04-19 - 2021-04-24 | Emerald Necklace, MA, United States
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have adjusted our traditionally one-day event to span a week in order to promote social distancing among volunteers.
All cleanup events will take place from 10:00AM-12:00PM throughout the week.
Monday, April 19, 2021: Back Bay Fens & Olmsted Park
Tuesday, April 20, 2021: Charlesgate & Jamaica Pond*
Wednesday, April 21, 2021: Justine Mee Liff Park & Olmsted Park
Thursday April 22, 2021: Riverway & Franklin Park (Shattuck Picnic Grove)
Friday, April 23, 2021: Charlesgate & Justine Mee Liff Park
Saturday, April 24, 2021: Back Bay Fens & Franklin Park (Valley Gates)
* Must be 18+ or accompanied by a guardian to participate in Jamaica Pond Cleanup.

All volunteers will be required to sign a COVID-19 volunteer waiver, along with our standard volunteer waiver, in order to participate. In order to follow event size requirements, we will cap each cleanup site at 25 volunteers. If a date does not appear on the signup form below, it has reached capacity.
If you would like to sign up for a waitlist for a closed cleanup site, please contact volunteer@emeraldnecklace.org with the subject line ‘Waitlist for Muddy River Cleanup’.

Note: For corporate volunteers and groups interested in participating that are over 25 people, we will require that they split their group between multiple cleanup sites. Contact Land Stewardship Coordinator Joelle Boyle at jboyle@emeraldnecklace.org and include “Muddy River Cleanup Corporate Group: [Insert Group Name Here]” in the subject line to arrange dates and cleanup sites.

Patriots' Day
2019-04-15 | MA
In observation of the holiday, Conservancy offices at the Shattuck Visitor Center are closed.

Hidden Gems: Revival of the Muddy River within the Emerald Necklace
2021-04-01 15:30 - 17:00 | MA
Event hosted by Park Watershed
The story of the Emerald Necklace, (aka Muddy River riparian corridor) reveals how landscapes along urban waterways provide essential ecosystem connectivity. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy fulfills the aspirations of Hartford native, Frederick Law Olmsted by hosting a spectrum of activities along the irregular path of the Muddy River. Revitalization of Boston’s Emerald Necklace is rooted in ambitious conservation goals of the late 19th and early 20th century. The impressive, historic scale of conservation can inspire communities to respond to the climate crisis with a new, 21st century parks movement.
This event will review the history of the Muddy River within the Emerald Necklace with guest Karen Mauney-Brodek of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, and will summarize the efforts of the Olmsted 200 movement with guest Barbara A. Yaeger of the National Association of Olmsted Parks.

Registrants for this event agree to receive communications from Emerald Necklace Conservancy and Park Watershed, with the option to unsubscribe at any time.

First Peek into the Curley House
2021-03-23 17:30 - 18:30 | MA
Fun fact: the Conservancy’s recently expanded offices at 350 Jamaicaway are the former home of Mayor James Michael Curley, one of Boston’s most notable (and notorious) mayors! Although our staff has been working remotely for the past year, we can’t keep this historically rich landmark overlooking Jamaica Pond to ourselves any longer! Join us on March 23 for a virtual “first peek” at the Curley House to learn about its remarkable past and its most storied resident.

We gratefully acknowledge the Trustees of the George Robert White Fund of the City of Boston, owner of the Curley House.

Lights in the Necklace
2021-02-27 - 2021-03-27 | MA
Lights in the Necklace celebrates the power of our urban parks to bring us together, inspire us and light the way in challenging times. Enjoy the emerald glow on several iconic Emerald Necklace bridges in the evenings from dusk to 9pm, daily through March 13.

Share your #NecklaceLights moment with us on social media.

Presidents' Day
2019-02-18 | MA

Creating a Picture Book with Katia Wish
2021-02-06 10:30 - 11:30 | MA
Creating a Picture Book: An author-illustrator shares the secrets of making a picture book.

In this fun and interactive story time, an author-illustrator Katia Wish shares the secrets of making her picture book RACCOON’S PERFECT SNOWMAN. After an engaging slide presentation and story reading, the kids will enjoy a draw-along activity.
The kids will learn that every book goes through many stages to become a real published book.
– inspiration
– idea generation
– rough sketches
– character studies
– several drafts
– refined sketches
– final images for a book
– published book!
Katia Wish is a children’s book author-illustrator based in Brookline, MA. Her latest book is Raccoon’s Perfect Snowman.
If you’d like to order the book AUTOGRAPHED by Katia Wish, you can find the information here.
If you’d like to schedule a VIRTUAL AUTHOR VISIT with your school or library, you can find the information here.

Saturday Storybook Reading
2021-01-30 10:30 - 11:00 | MA
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a Saturday storybook reading with the Conservancy’s Tess O’Day. Each event will feature one story and include a take-away activity. Tune in on YouTube Saturday, January 30 at 10:30 am for the first winter story. Ideal for kids ages 5-12.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
2019-01-21 | MA
In observance of the holiday and Martin Luther King, Jr., Conservancy offices at the Shattuck Visitor Center are closed.

YLP Panel: Careers in Landscape Architecture
2021-01-15 16:00 - 18:00 | MA
Are you interested in Landscape Architecture? Do you want to find out what that even is? Join Landscape Architecture college and university students, professionals, and educators in this panel discussion about what it’s like working in the field of Landscape Architecture. This session will include a question and answer portion, as well as virtual “office visits” to different sites.
As part of our virtual Youth Leadership Program in 2021, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy is opening up select sessions to youth not enrolled in the program, FREE and open to ALL youth between the ages of 14-20.
Register for the panel here

Saturday Storybook Reading
2021-01-09 10:30 - 11:00 | MA
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a Saturday storybook reading with the Conservancy’s Tess O’Day. Each event will feature one story and include a take-away activity. Tune in on YouTube Saturday, January 9 at 10:30 am for the first winter story. Ideal for kids ages 5-12.

YLP Workshop: Execution Functions
2021-01-08 16:00 - 17:15 | MA
Join Malaina Saha of the Youth Engagement and Employment Department of Boston in this career development workshop which will cover self awareness, working memory, emotional self-regulation, self-motivation, planning and problem solving.
As part of our virtual Youth Leadership Program in 2021, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy is opening up select sessions to youth not enrolled in the program, FREE and open to ALL youth between the ages of 14-20.
About the Youth Engagement and Employment Department of Boston:
YEE’s mission is to employ, develop, and engage Boston’s youth. We amplify youth voice and bridge opportunities for personal and professional growth. Learn more here.
Register for the workshop here
*space is limited for this workshop

Happy New Year!
2020-01-01 | MA
In observance of the holiday, Conservancy offices at the Shattuck Visitor Center are closed.

Saturday Storytelling with Valerie Stephens
2020-12-12 10:30 - 11:00, 2020-12-05 10:30 - 11:00 | MA
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a Saturday Storytelling with Valerie Stephens. Each Storytelling Concert will feature two stories and will include a take-away activity for the whole family. Ideal for kids ages 5-12.
This event will premiere on YouTube and be viewable anytime after the premiere date!
Registration is encouraged (not required). Those who register will receive an email reminder with take-away activities from each story. Activities can also be found at www.emeraldnecklace.org/storytelling.
Valerie Stephens is a performing artist and arts educator whose professional career spans 35 years. As a storyteller, she has performed throughout New England for three generations of audiences.
Through her use of history, art and self-expression, she has developed an integrated, interactive curriculum and productions. She has taught creative dramatics and improvisational theater techniques for such organizations as Wheelock Family Theater, Springfield Museum of Natural History, the Children’s AIDS Project, Raw Arts of Lynn, MA, and Germaine Lawrence School for Girls and Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center.
In addition to receiving a 2019 Brother Thomas Fellowship with an unrestricted award of $15,000, Valerie has received 2019 Bridge Award in Arts, 2018 Boston City Council Resolution for creating the annual event PRINCESS DAY: Celebrating Little Girls of Color and her commitment to Nina Simone’s legacy, 2017 New England Foundation for the Arts Creative City Grant for creating the Elder Storytelling Performance Project, 2016 Get Konnected! Boston Legends & Pioneers Award, the 2011 NAACP Image Award, 2007 Urban Music Award in Blues and was a nominee for the 2011 Urban Music Award in Jazz as well as Citations of Appreciation from Boston, New Bedford and Springfield.
Learn more about Valerie Stephens at http://www.valerie-stephens.com.

Charlesgate Public Meeting
2020-11-19 18:30 - 19:30 | MA
Join Emerald Necklace Conservancy Karen Mauney-Brodek, Charlesgate Alliance co-founder Parker James and architects Dan and Marie Law Adams of Landing Studio for an update on the Charlesgate Park Revitalization Project. We will review the project to date and advocacy efforts for two Massachusetts Department of Transportation projects in the Charlesgate Park area. Attendance is free; however, advanced registration is required. Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Emerald Necklace Conservancy Trivia Night with the Leventhal Map Center
2020-11-12 19:00 - 20:30 | MA
What do you know about the Emerald Necklace and maps of parks in Boston? Bring yourself or a team to our trivia night!

The Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy invite you to LMEC’s third virtual trivia night, where we challenge you to learn more about the history of the city of Boston.
Some of the trivia rounds will feature a geographic scavenger hunt using Atlascope, the Map Center’s user-friendly tool that provides access to hundreds of historic maps of Boston and surrounding areas. Others will feature knowledge about Frederick Law Olmsted’s 100-year-old park system, the Emerald Necklace.
Registration is encouraged but not required. You may participate individually or as a member of a team. Teams are responsible for their own coordination over chat or phone to submit answers.
Register on Eventbrite.
This event will be live-streamed on the Leventhal Map & Education Center’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
Prizes of maps of Boston and of the Emerald Necklace will be awarded to winning teams.

Fall Tour of the Fenway Victory Gardens
2020-10-29 | MA
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a fall tour of the Fenway Victory Gardens, led by Gardens President Elizabeth Bertolozzi.
Fall is not just for foliage! The 500 plots of the Fenway Victory Gardens dazzle and delight with late bloomers like dahlias, zinnias and Mexican sunflowers. Join us for a late-season tour of the Fenway Victory Gardens to learn about its history, quirky gardens and the wide variety of blooms, herbs, trees and insects that call this urban oasis home. Fenway Victory Gardens President Elizabeth Bertolozzi leads us on a tour through this historic and beloved corner of the Emerald Necklace.
This virtual tour will premiere on Thursday, October 29 at 5:15pm EST on the Conservancy’s YouTube account. For more fall programs and ongoing activities, visit our Autumn on the Emerald Necklace page.

STEM Week
2020-10-18 - 2020-10-24 | MA
Participate in STEM week, October 18th-24th!
STEM (Science, technology, Engineering, Math) week is happening virtually in Boston this year. The ENC has curated some outdoor and environmental science activities for STEM week. Join us for scavenger hunts, science experiments, and to hear from professionals in the field!
Find the full schedule of STEM week here.
Find activities curated by the ENC in the “family calendar” here.
Use the hashtag #MassSTEMWeek to share your discoveries and work!

An Emerald Evening In
2020-10-14 18:00 - 20:00 | MA
This October, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy hosts its signature biennial fundraiser, Emerald Evening, in celebration of the Conservancy’s advocacy and improvements in and for the Emerald Necklace. This year’s Emerald Evening will take place virtually – An Emerald Evening In. Guests will be treated to a networking cocktail reception and an exciting program highlighting the work of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and the vital role parks play in our lives – as green infrastructure, vibrant public spaces and essential elements of healthy living. We will recognize City of Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh with the Olmsted Award of Excellence for his administration’s significant capital investments in the Emerald Necklace and invite participants to delve into park topics such as caring for an urban tree canopy, green infrastructure and spatial justice. The evening will also feature a raffle, trivia questions, a special musical performance and a custom meal curated by local businesses Curd & Co. and The Urban Grape.

Visit the event page for more information

Clean Water, Green Space, and Social Equity Panel Discussion
2020-10-07 17:30 - 18:30 | MA
The Emerald Necklace Conservancy is proud to partner with the Massachusetts Historical Society and the Muddy Water Initiative for a conversation on social equity, environmental justice, and the Muddy River.
The chain of green spaces and waterways that comprise the Emerald Necklace park system is an invaluable urban oasis. Described as “the lungs of the city” this parkland and its rivers and ponds clean the city air, provide habitats for birds and other wildlife, and greatly improve quality of life for Boston residents. Our panel will explore the past, present, and future of this urban wild, beginning with Olmsted’s vision, through the lens of social equity and environmental justice.
Please note, this is an online event held on the video conference platform, Zoom. Registrants will receive an email with links to join the program.
For more information and to register, check out the Massachusetts Historical Society’s website here.

A Tour of Olmsted Park and The Riverway with The Cultural Landscape Foundation
2020-09-13 14:00 - 16:00 | Olmsted Park, 217 Jamaicaway, Boston, MA, 02130, United States
We are proud to sponsor The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s What’s Out There Weekend Boston Sep 12-13, featuring FREE, expert-led tours of the city’s parks, gardens, landscapes and open spaces. Tours are FREE but Registration required.

This is an in-person event. All tours will be subject to local guidelines on gatherings, including social distancing, wearing face coverings, and stay-at-home orders. Attendance is limited, not only to maximize the safety of those attending but to promote an intimate learning experience. If this event needs to be postponed to comply with local ordinances, registrants will be notified directly.
check out the full list of events here: https://tclf.org/whats-out-there-weekend-boston
register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/whats-out-there-weekend-boston-tickets-115211915942
