Looking back at 2019

The Greenway is an urban oasis thanks to our pioneering approach to ecological landscape management, as well as our rich diversity of trees, shrubs, plants and beautiful blooms. We’re one of the only public parks in the region with a landscape that is maintained completely organically. Our organic landscape approach means healthier plants, a cleaner Boston Harbor, and a safer space for children, pets, and all. Ten years in and the park is lush, green, and beautiful.

To celebrate 10 years of management and care of The Greenway 10,000 bulbs bloomed in our Carolyn Lynch Garden, and expanded our Pollinator Ribbon with the first beehives in a public park and a new wildflower meadow.

Throughout 2019, the Conservancy has celebrated the 10-Year Anniversary with signature improvements and bold new features. Earlier this year, the Conservancy received the Boston Society of Architects Commonwealth Award, recognized for “outstanding work on the dynamic transformation and activation of a portion of downtown Boston that was once lost to the Central Artery”.

The Greenway Conservancy’s signature Rings Fountain has a new light show for our 10-Year anniversary! Fountain repairs and upgrades have transformed this one-of-a-kind fountain with colored LED lights set to the fountain jets and created a dynamic new experience in the park. 

The Rings Fountain is one of the most popular features on The Greenway, a place for friends and families to gather and play and has been hailed as “the most unconditionally happy spot in all of Boston” and “one of the most effortlessly diverse places in the city” by The Boston Globe.

For The Greenway’s 10th anniversary, the Greenway Conservancy commissioned celebrated choreographer Peter DiMuro of Public Displays of Motion to create site-specific, free dance performances in the park. Waterway/Lightway/Greenway was inspired by the history of The Greenway and included a procession through the green space and dancing in and around our signature Rings Fountain.

In Chin Park, our partner Celebrity Series of Boston gave powerful, free music experiences to ~2,000 people: one listener and one musician at a time. Concert for One paired one listener with one musician for a one-minute concert, fostering intimate connections between performers and audience members.

Concert for One photos Courtesy of Celebrity Series of Boston

This year, the Greenway Conservancy relaunched our website, which like the park, was designed with you in mind.

Rosekennedygreenway.org is your guide to discovering The Greenway, and supporting the Conservancy. Our new design makes it easy to navigate the site while you’re navigating the park, and keep up with The Greenway on the go.

Two years ago, we brought you Boson’s first open-air beer garden in a public park. In 2019, we partnered with City Winery to open City Winery on The Greenway, a new pop-up wine garden in Dewey Square.

Visitors and sommeliers alike enjoyed delicious wine by City Winery Boston and beer and cider by Harpoon Brewery in a relaxing outdoor setting.

This years public art exhibition, the Auto Show, helped mark our 10th anniversary by leading visitors to reflect on the former elevated Central Artery and the history of site as a transportation corridor. In particular, our Augmented Reality Art exhibit highlights the themes of history, transportation and the automobile within The Greenway. Download the Hoverlay app to explore the interactive installations at marked locations along The Greenway!

The Greenway Conservancy’s Public Art program has paved the way for The Greenway to become a premier destination to see contemporary works of art in downtown Boston, winning eight awards for the Public Art Network by American for the Arts in the past seven year, more than any other non-profit organization in the country.

Each year, we host two signature fundraising events in the park in support of the Greenway Conservancy. Held on consecutive evenings in the early summer, our community of supporters raised $692k the Gala on The Greenway and Glow in the Park; a new record! This year’s Gala on The Greenway honored the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Charlie Baker. The event co-chairs were Alli and Bill Achtmeyer and Laura and Bob Reynolds.

The Greenway belongs to all of us. You are what makes the park. Discover new ways to give, and learn how you can be a friend and supporter.

The Greenway is growing! Earlier this year, the Boston Planning and Development Association, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Conservancy alongside community groups began the process of redeveloping Parcel 2 on the northern point of The Greenway. This fall, a design was selected and groundbreaking on our new park is expected to begin in 2020. Ahead of construction, the Greenway Business Improvement District has provided funding to improve the parcel in the short term as the design process is underway.