Franklin Park Action Plan

Over 100 years ago, Franklin Park was conceived of as the jewel of Boston’s Emerald Necklace. Today, it is still Boston’s largest park by far, serving the city’s densest, most diverse neighborhoods.

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As the geographic heart of the city of Boston, Franklin Park serves as the meeting ground of the Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, Roslindale, and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods, drawing in visitors from throughout the region and around the world.

For over a century, Franklin Park has been a lively and beloved center of recreation, gathering, and discovery for the Boston community. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted as part of the Emerald Necklace, Franklin Park remains Boston’s largest green space. The 527 acre park is home to the Franklin Park Zoo, Shattuck Hospital, and William J. Devine Golf Course as well as many recreation areas and playgrounds. In 2019, the city of Boston committed $28,000,000 to restore and improve the park, including a $5,000,000 endowment for future maintenance and programming. Reed Hilderbrand supported by Agency Landscape + Planning, MASS Design Group, and an interdisciplinary team embarked on a planning process to study the park’s current strengths and potential improvements, including its landscape health, relationship to adjacent communities, and uses. The objective was to make an urban space that is resilient, beautiful and welcoming to Bostonians and visitors alike. The team worked closely with the surrounding community to determine how Franklin Park could better engage and serve its visitors. The resulting Action Plan sets forth a sustainable future for Franklin Park.

Location

Boston, MA

Dates

2019-

Leadership

Team

Recognition

“Parks are essential — especially during the coronavirus pandemic,” Boston Globe, May 6, 2020
“Plan for Franklin Park Would Ban Cars From Circuit Drive,” StreetsBlog, March 2021