Boston Flora

Tag: Chris Cook

  • Thursday, December 2, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Official Lighting Ceremonies on Commonwealth Avenue Mall and Boston Common

    Join in the festivities at the official lighting ceremonies on Commonwealth Avenue Mall and Boston Common. The 80th Annual Tree Lighting on Boston Common takes place December 2 from 6-8:00 p.m.

    The celebration is presented by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, title sponsor The Province of Nova Scotia, and additional sponsors. The holiday lights throughout both parks will light up in sequence shortly before 8 p.m. when the Mayor is joined onstage by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Santa Claus, Rudolph, and Frosty. The show will close with a pyrotechnic display by Atlas PyroVision.

    WCVB Channel 5’s CHRONICLE Co-Anchors Anthony Everett and Shayna Seymour will once again host Channel 5’s live broadcast of the event beginning at 7 p.m. featuring various artists (to be announced).

    The lighting of the trees on the Common is made possible through the generosity of sponsors and contributions from other individuals and institutions. The annual holiday display includes the official Christmas tree from Nova Scotia and trees throughout Boston Common. Refreshments and additional support will be provided by promotional sponsors TBD.

    For further information, please call the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505, or visit https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation

  • Thursday, May 16, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Meeting Our Climate Future

    Join The Emerald Necklace Conservancy on May 16 at 5:30 pm for Meeting Our Climate Future: Lessons in Public-Private Parks Partnerships, a free, public discussion on the shared goals of public parks departments and private parks organizations, as well as the role of partnerships between these two groups in preparing for our climate future. The event will take place at the offices of the Event Sponsor Wilmington Trust, 280 Congress Street, Suite 1300, in Boston. Register at www.emeraldnecklace.org.

    Featuring:

    Kathryn Ott Lovell, Philadelphia Parks Commissioner and 2019 Party in the Park Liff Spirit Awardee
    Commissioner Lovell will discuss highlights of her signature achievements with the City of Philadelphia Parks Department and at her previous role with the Fairmont Parks Conservancy. Additionally, Kathryn will highlight the City of Philadelphia’s leading work on climate readiness with its Stormwater Management programs, in which Philadelphia will invest $2.4 billion in the coming years.

    Chris Cook, Chief, Environment, Energy, and Open Space; Commissioner, Parks and Recreation, Boston
    Chief Cook will present the City’s climate-ready vision to enhance Boston’s waterfront through accessible green space, infrastructure improvements and more.

    Karen Mauney-Brodek, President, Emerald Necklace Conservancy
    Karen will discuss the history America’s first “green infrastructure” project – the Emerald Necklace and the Muddy River – as well as their ongoing restoration. She will also touch on plans for a more resilient Charlesgate Park and highlight other past and proposed partnerships.

  • Thursday, October 13, 6:00 pm – ParkARTS Celebration: Sunday in the Park with George

    The Huntington Theatre Company and the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City of Boston announce a fundraiser on behalf of ParkARTS, a free program that makes the arts accessible to all people in our parks and brings culture directly into Boston’s neighborhoods.  The event takes place Thursday, October 13, beginning with a pre-show picnic reception from 6 – 7:15 at the BU Theatre Rehearsal Hall, 254 Huntington Avenue, then a performance of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George at 7:30 in the BU Theatre/Avenue of the Arts, 264 Huntington Avenue, followed by a special post-show conversation with Christopher Cook, City of Boston Parks & Recreation Commissioner, immediately following the performance.  The pre-show reception and performance is $150 with code: PARKARTS.  Purchase tickets online now at http://www.huntingtontheatre.org/season/reserve.aspx?performanceNumber=19811&src=t

  • Wednesday, April 8, 5:00 pm – 45th Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Public Garden

    Join the Friends of the Public Garden on Wednesday, April 8 for an update on parks projects and hear featured speaker Boston Parks Commissioner Chris Cook at this year’s annual meeting. The event will begin at 5 pm at the First Church in Boston, 66 Marlborough Street. RSVP by April 1 by calling 617-723-8144, or email info@friendsofthepublicgarden.org.

  • Introducing Christopher Cook, Commissioner of Parks & Recreation

    Introducing Christopher Cook, Commissioner of Parks & Recreation

    Christopher Cook, 37, is Boston’s new Commissioner of Parks & Recreation.  A native of Plymouth, he now lives in West Roxbury, and will be in charge of more than 200 City parks and playgrounds.  Although he is new to the field of parks administration, he can count on the support of the multitude of not for profit Friends groups and park advocates throughout the City.  He studied at Suffolk University and previously served as Arts Commissioner under former Mayor Menino.  Lawrence Harmon of The Boston Globe wrote an interesting article about the new Commissioner which may be found at http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/09/13/cook-good-choice-for-parks-head/2NN0K3Ki7Ru6texgrZAxzI/story.html

    We look forward to meeting Chris Cook in the coming months.  Our hands-on work with the trees of the Back Bay demands a close working relationship with the Parks Department, and our public-private partnership with the City is of paramount importance. Both previous Parks Commissioners, Justine Liff and Antonia Pollak, created a positive cooperative environment for our organization, and we anticipate that spirit of friendship and shared goals will continue under the new administration.

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  • Monday, November 24, 5:15 pm – Christopher Columbus Park Light Trellis Display

    The Friends of Christopher Columbus Park (FOCCP) will celebrate a Boston holiday tradition with the twelfth annual lighting of the park’s signature trellises on Monday, November 24, beginning at 5:15 p.m. Local businesses and neighbors support the efforts of FOCCP, the all-volunteer neighborhood organization, to raise the funds needed to illuminate the trellis and 14 trees annually. Mayor Martin J. Walsh will preside over the trellis lighting ceremony, along with Boston Parks Commissioner Chris Cook.

    “The Friends of Christopher Columbus is proud to fund the more than $25,000 necessary to light up the trellis and trees for the season,” says FOCCP President Joanne Hayes-Rines. “Every year it is thrilling to watch the park be transformed into a winter wonderland, and we’re delighted that Mayor Walsh will throw the switch this year.”

    Entertainment will be provided by the North End Music and Performing Arts Center while Santa Claus and Miss Massachusetts, Lauren Kuhn, welcome attendees. The Marriott Long Wharf Hotel, Joe’s American Bar & Grill, Starbucks and Magic 106.7 will provide refreshments and holiday treats.

    The major corporate sponsors for this year’s trellis and tree lighting are Boston PushCart, The Chiofaro Company, CL Waterfront Properties, Joe’s American Bar & Grill, Marriott Long Wharf Boston, NorthEndBoston.com, Sunstone Hotel Investors and Tia’s Restaurant. The Friends would also like to recognize the support of Sanibel Electric in this year’s trellis lighting. “With an ambitious docket of projects before us, we are more dependent than ever on the generosity of our members, both private and corporate, in Boston and outside the city, who help us fund these efforts,” says Hayes-Rines. “We have been one of the most successful Friends groups to support a city park, and we truly appreciate everyone’s help and continued donations to keep pulling all this off.”