Rose Kennedy Greenway
Chinatown Park
The Rose Kennedy Greenway creates abundant opportunities that add vibrancy to the city and that when completed, will be the crown jewel of Boston and will be an important open space resource for generations to come. The building of the Greenway is an historic accomplishment.
Our role
A Better City has collaborated with many public and non-profit partners over the past 17 years to develop the design and programming principles for Dewey Square, Chinatown, the North Area around North Station, and the central area of the Downtown Corridor - called the Wharf District. Throughout, we have worked towards activating the Greenway while successfully linking neighborhoods previously disconnected by the elevated Central Artery.
A Better City also conducted a series of "Edges Studies" along the Greenway corridor that explored the potential of the public and private spaces adjacent to the Greenway. The goal of this work was to help enable complementary uses and retail opportunities in adjacent spaces, activate the surrounding urban fabric, and provide a threshold to the Greenway using premium urban design techniques.
Our Greenway Abutters Committee, co-chaired by Bud Ris of the New England Aquarium and Peter Shields of Equity Office Properties, was set up to partner with the Greenway Conservancy and other interested parties in planning for activities in the new open spaces. The group also monitors and evaluates plans for the open spaces and civic projects being developed.
What's New
Mark your calendars - the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy's celebratory opening of the Greenway will be the first weekend of October.
Bud Ris and Peter Shields convened our Greenway Abutters over the winter to
discuss the progress of maintenance and operations plans for the Greenway. Representatives of the Turnpike Authority highlighted this year's successful snow removal and winter care of the open spaces and praised abutters for taking care to assist in the snow removal on their own properties adjacent to the Greenway. And
ABC isworking with the Turnpike Authority and the Greenway Conservancy to be ready to maintain and operate the parks this spring. MassHort will plant
and maintain garden beds on the parcels around Dewey Square, and the Conservancy is planning interim activities on these parcels while the BRA begins the public process to determine their long term use.
There is also pending legislation proposed by Speaker Sal DiMasi that would establish the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy as the entity responsible for maintaining and programming the Greenway following a transition of responsibility from the MTA. The legislation provides additional financial resources from both the MTA ($10 million) and a yearly appropriation from the legislature ($5.5 million) and it establishes a committee structure and method for appointing committee and board members. The bill is currently in committee but should be acted upon by the end of the legislative session.
A Better City has long advocated for a single purpose entity to be responsible for the maintenance, operations and programming of the Greenway, and we have written a broad letter of support for the speedy passage of the legislation.
Finally, ABC plans to begin publishing monthly report cards on the quality and status of the Greenway maintenance for the summer of 2008.
Additional Resources
Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy
Massachusetts Turnpike Authority - Greenway