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Boston Parks, Boston Gardens and Boston Arboretums
(Boston, Massachusetts (MA), USA)



Boston can really boast about its wide variety of parks, ranging from the largest to the smallest. You would never imagine that the city of Boston would have so much green and open space throughout. Many areas have at least one park, whether it is just a small pool with surrounding trees or a huge park covering many acres.

Here are some of the most popular parks in Boston that provide a calming and tranquil oasis, right in the heart of hectic city life.




Boston Gardens: Boston Common - Boston, MA, USA
Central Boston Common is the oldest public park in the United States and is undoubtedly the largest and most famous of the town commons around which New England settlements were built. Dating from around 1634, the park is as old as the surrounding city and started as grazing ground for cattle. Today, the park is the site for relaxing and picnicking, and is a place where demonstrators can freely exercise their right to freedom of speech.

Covering an area of 50 acres / 20 hectares, Boston Common contains many important sites, including the Central Burying Ground near Tremont, Beacon Hill and countless statues commemorating important people and events. Purposes have varied over the years and public hangings took place here until 1817. The 'Frog Pond' is actually a concrete depression used as a children's paddling pool during the hot summer days. In winter the frozen pond is also used for ice skating. The park's highest point is near the park's Parkman Bandstand and was once called Flagstaff Hill. Boston Common is the official starting point of the Freedom Trail.
Location: between Boylston, Park, Tremont and Beacon streets

Boston Gardens: Arnold Arboretum - 125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain
Tel: +1 (617) 524 1718
This wonderful 265-acre / 106-hectare arboretum is administered by Harvard University and contains over 4,000 types of woody plant, mainly from the hardy north temperate zone. It was established in 1872 and despite being set in a dense urban area, provides a tranquil, peaceful space away from the busy city. It is spectacular when the rhododendrons, lilacs, magnolias and fruit trees are in full flower and also in the fall, when the park puts on a fiery autumnal display. The arboretum is six miles from downtown Boston and is accessible by MBTA Orange Line or Bus 39 from Copley Square to Center Street. The Larz Anderson bonsai collection is home to individual specimens imported from Japan that are more than 200 years old - and now includes a 3.5 acre / 1.5 hectare Sun-Loving Shrub and Vine Collection.
Gardens open: daily dawn to dusk
Visitor center - March to November, weekdays 09:00 to 16:00, weekends 12:00 to 16:00
December and February, weekdays 09:00 to 16:00, weekends 10:00 to 14:00 - closed January
Free tours on Saturdays and mid-week

Boston Gardens: Boston Public Garden - Charles, Beacon, Boylston, and Arlington Streets, Boston
Tel: +1 (617) 635 4505
These beautiful gardens are the oldest botanical gardens in the whole of America, dating from 1837 and contain some of the finest formal planting in central Boston. Occupying what had previously been salt marshes on the edge of the common, the main walkways contains large beds that are replanted for spring and summer, to ensure maximum color and impact. At the beginning of May the displays are particularly colorful, containing hundreds of stunning tulips. There are also many mature trees, which are both native and European species.

In the center of the public garden is one of the main features - an irregularly shaped pond - and this has been famous for its pedal-powered Swan Boats since 1877. Along the main pathway between the pond and the park entrance are the well-known 'Make Way for Ducklings' bronze sculptures, which depict a mother duck and her many ducklings taking a walk. This is a tribute to the 1941 classic children's story by Robert McCloskey.
Nearest subway station: Arlington.

Boston Gardens: Fenway Park - 4 Yawkey Way
Tel: +1 (617) 236 6666
Still home to the infamous Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park first opened almost 100 years ago. Even though it is one of the smallest major league baseball parks, with a capacity of around 34,000, no player has ever hit a home run over its right field. The park is located in an area known as the 'Fens', hence its name 'Fenway'. Year-round tours depart from Gate D on Yawkey Way hourly daily from 09:00 to 16:00 or until three hours before game time, whichever is earlier.

 
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