Special Features
Light Blades
Every night, twelve vertical glass and steel sculptures illuminate the Wharf District Parks plaza between Milk and India Streets with joyful colors. This unique system of LED lights is programmed to show up to 16.7 million different colors, along with an array of patterns, speed and intensity.
As part of the Winter Lights series, New American Public Art has created an interactive program that allows park users to change the color of the light blades through a text message to 917-525-2337.
The Mothers' Walk
The Mothers’ Walk is a gently curving pathway in the Greenway’s Wharf District Parks that consists of pavers inscribed with names and personal messages. Each paver means something different to each donor, but travelling along the Mothers' Walk allows visitors the opportunity to think about the special people who have made a difference in their lives.
Essex Street Gate
The Essex Street Gate located in Chinatown Park serves as the Southern start of the Greenway, and welcomes visitors to the Parks. A contemporary red gateway symbolizing celebration and good fortune, and serving as a modern counterpoint to the traditional gate at Beach Street, the stylized sampan sail sculpture represents the passage of the Chinese to Boston.
Chinatown Gate
Also located in Chinatown Park, a traditional Chinatown gate (paifong), a gift from the city Taipei, is a symbolic entryway for visitors and immigrants who settle in the area. Two imperial guardian foo dogs guard the front of the paifong.
Boston Harbor Islands Pavilion
Located in the Wharf District Parks, The Boston Harbor Islands Pavilion is an open-air pavilion staffed by National Park Service rangers welcoming visitors and providing helpful information about the Greenway, the Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands. Ferry tickets and Boston Harbor Islands park merchandise are available for purchase at the pavilion.
