Boston Flora

Tag: Boston Parks and REcreation

  • Saturday, April 12, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm – Boston Parks & Recreation’s Duck Boat Pull

    Get ready for an unforgettable challenge at the Boston Parks and Recreation’s First Annual Duck-Boat-Pull —a brand-new event taking place in the heart of the Boston Common on Saturday, April 12, where teams of 10 will race against the clock to pull a 21,000-pound duck boat across a designated course. Think you’ve got what it takes to out-pull the competition?

    This exciting event isn’t just about muscle—every pull you make directly benefits local youth sports and fitness programs that keep our kids active, healthy, and thriving. All proceeds go toward funding essential sports leagues, tournaments, and fitness initiatives managed by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department for all of Boston’s youth.

    This event is in partnership with the Boston Duck Tours. The event is free to watch, and teams of ten will pay $1,000 in support of Boston’s Youth Sports. To sign up contact Tiffany Clark at 617-233-2305, or send an email.

  • Tuesday, December 3 – Application Deadline for First Grants from The Henry Lee Fund for Boston Parks

    The Henry Lee Fund for Boston Parks aims to enhance public greenspaces throughout Boston by providing grants to support the care of trees and turf, sculpture maintenance, and special projects in neighborhood parks where the needs are clear, but the resources are limited. Friends President Emeritus Henry Lee demonstrated a lifelong commitment to public greenspace and historic preservation throughout Boston. Best known as one of the founders of Friends of the Public Garden and its leader for 41 years, Henry was an ardent champion of our entire urban park system. A staunch advocate for the restoration of sculpture throughout the city, he also helped to revive the city’s Art Commission in the 1980s.

    In recognition of his commitment to all our city’s parks, and in celebration of his 99th birthday, Friends of the Public Garden established The Henry Lee Fund for Boston Parks. This new fund embodies Henry’s commitment to equity in the quality of our public greenspaces. Grants will be supported by an endowment created by the Friends of the Public Garden, established with a $250,000 commitment from our Board. Administered by the Friends, grant decisions will be made by a committee that includes FOPG staff and board, representatives of the Boston Parks & Recreation Department, community volunteers, and the Friends’ arboriculture and sculpture consultants. Learn more, donate, or apply at https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/leefund/ Awardees will be notified January 12, 2025.  For 2024, the Friends of the Public Garden will distribute nearly $40,000 with a grant maximum of $5,000. 

  • Tuesday, September 17, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Backyard Bash!

    Join Friends of the Public Garden and partner Boston Parks & Recreation Department for the ultimate outdoor post-conference party at Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common. From 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17, celebrate in your parks with lawn games, frozen delights, mocktails, a live DJ, great company, and so much more… The event is free and open to the public. It’s a fantastic opportunity to unwind, socialize, and meet new friends. Perhaps there will be cornhole.

  • Thursday, August 29, 8:30 pm – Illuminate the Harbor

    Join Boston Harbor Now on the waterfront for a dazzling celebration of Boston Harbor and the waterfront neighborhoods on Thursday, August 29th. Explore the city’s beautiful Harborwalk and waterfront public park spaces and stay for a breathtaking fireworks show starting at 8:30 PM.

    This tenth anniversary of Illuminate the Harbor fireworks is made possible with the generous support of @MeetBoston and @CityofBoston.

    For more info and to stay up-to-date on what’s happening on the Harbor: www.bostonharbornow.org/fireworks

  • Friday, September 29 – Application Deadline for 2023 Boston Blooms with Daffodils

    Mayor Michelle Wu today announced that the Boston Parks and Recreation Department will distribute over 15,000 daffodil bulbs for planting on public ways citywide through the “Boston Blooms with Daffodils” beautification initiative started in 2011.

    Individuals, civic associations, church groups, sports leagues, scout troops, open space advocates, and parks friends are encouraged to sign up to participate. Last year, nearly a hundred community groups planted bulbs in neighborhoods across the City.

    Those interested in participating may fill out a form online at boston.gov/boston-blooms. The online application form will remain open until late September on a rolling basis. Due to limited supply, groups are not guaranteed bulbs, but the Parks Department will strive to accommodate all requests. The application deadline is September 29 (or sooner if demand exceeds supply).

    The plantings are anticipated to take place in approved locations on the weekends of October 21 and October 28. The Parks Department will contact interested groups and provide bulb pick-up instructions and dates. Groups and individuals are asked to use their own tools.

    The Boston Parks and Recreation Department encourages volunteers to take photos of their groups on planting days and share them via social media using the hashtag #BostonBlooms.

    For more information on “Boston Blooms with Daffodils,” call (617) 961-3004 or email parks@boston.gov. To stay up to date with news, events, and improvements in Boston parks, sign up for our email list at bit.ly/Get-Parks-Emails, and follow our social channels @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

    Thank you to the Boston Sun for the timely notification of this event.

  • The Friends of the Public Garden Master Plan

    Incorporating your ideas, the Friends of the Public Garden and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department created a roadmap toward a more accessible, resilient, and inclusive space for the present and into the future.

    VIEW THE PLAN

  • Tuesday, January 28, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Franklin Park Master Plan Community Workshop

    Over the next 18 months, the City of Boston is partnering with a team of landscape architects, planners, ecologists, and community engagement experts to create a master plan for an engaging and diverse Franklin Park. Help shape the future of the park and connections to the surrounding neighborhoods. This first meeting will take place January 28 from 6 – 8 at the William J. Devine Golf Course Clubhouse (and if you haven’t been, it’s worth the trip.) William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park was established October 26, 1896 and is the second oldest public golf course in the nation behind Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx borough of New York City. Snow date: Thursday, January 30 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm


  • Wednesday, May 9, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – The Trees in Copley Square

    The Boston Parks and Recreation Department and The Friends of Copley Square will co-host a public information meeting from 6 – 8 on Wednesday, May 9 in the Rabb Lecture Hall in the Boston Public Library, Central Branch, in Copley Square, to discuss the scheduled removal of 20 diseased London plane trees in Copley Square.  The trees have canker stain fungal infection.  The Parks Department staff will be on hand to present details about the tree removal and the remedies planned for the site, including planting of replacement trees and enhanced tree care needed for the park’s remaining trees. All are invited to attend. For additional questions or information, visit www.friendsofcopleysquare.org.  Picture from www.universalhub.com.

  • Wednesday, March 23, 12:00 noon – Groundbreaking Ceremony at Brewer Fountain

    The Friends of the Public Garden, in association with the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, Mayor Thomas M. Menino, and Boston Parks Commissioner Antonia Pollak, will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of construction of the Brewer Plaza and surrounding green space near the Brewer Fountain by Tremont Street on Wednesday, March 23, at noon.

  • Tuesday, March 15, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm – Boston Flower Show Preview Party

    The Boston Parks and Recreation Department will host the Boston Flower & Garden Show Preview Party at the Seaport World Trade Center, from 5:30 – 8 on March 15, 2011. All proceeds will benefit the Boston Parks Department. This event is a great opportunity for both individuals and businesses to support Boston’s parks, from planting new trees to caring for our large, old ones throughout our city’s parks. In addition to helping keep our parks healthy, the Boston Flower Show Preview Party will be a wonderful way to see the flower show: there will be no waiting in lines or working your way through crowds. All guests will receive a gift bag. A Friend or Sponsor will receive a VIP gift bag plus a chance to win fabulous prizes from local businesses. For more information, or to buy tickets online ($125 per person)  please visit the Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s website, http://www.cityofboston.gov/parks/ttd/flowershow.asp. You may also call 617-961-3051.  The Boston Flower & Garden Show will be open to the public March 16 – 20.