Join the Boston Police Department and the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bays Block Captains of Back Bay for an evening walk through our neighborhood parks on Monday, March 23rd at 5:30 pm, starting at Copley Square Park and heading to the Commonwealth Ave Mall. (Rain Date: Tuesday, March 24th)
Meet local officers, share observations about park conditions and safety, and connect with neighbors working together to keep Back Bay welcoming for everyone.
The Friends of the Public Garden invites you to the lighting of the trees on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall on December 4. One of Boston’s most iconic holiday sights, Holiday Lights on the Mall is community spirit and goodwill brought to life during the darkest months, This winter, Friends of the Public Garden will once again invest $250,000 to bring the wintertime magic of the lights along the Mall, and this is only possible with your support. Neighbors and friends have given generously to uphold this beloved tradition since 2000. Your charitable gift of any size will bring light and help care for the park all year long. You can donate by credit card or electronic fund transfer at friendsofthepublicgarden.org/givelight or by telephone at 617-723-8144 x 203.
After almost 7 years of prodding, planning, public meetings, and budget issues the Boston Parks Department will be implementing this new design for the Kenmore Mall this fall. This is the last block of the Mall that has Landmark status and it has long been “left out”. This new design will upgrade the paving, electrical service and lighting, and add irrigation. New trees will be planted, the Lombard Light repositioned and new seating and planting beds installed. There may be a role for Garden Club members to help out with the new perennial beds. Stay tuned. This one-acre block of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall is located in Kenmore Square west of Charlesgate. The park includes lawn, trees and brick plazas. For more information, and to sign up for updates, visit www.boston.gov
Leslie Singleton Adam, Board Chair of The Friends of the Public Garden, has announced that after a competitive executive search, The Friends are excited to announce the appointment of Liza Meyer as President of Friends of the Public Garden. Liza joins us as the third leader of the organization, following in the footsteps of founder Henry Lee and former President Liz Vizza. She will officially assume her role as President on May 1.
Liza’s deep connection to the Boston Common, Public Garden, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall comes from 16 years of experience working with the Boston Parks & Recreation Department, serving as Chief Landscape Architect beginning in 2011, and, most recently, Interim Parks Commissioner. Her expertise in prioritizing and driving meaningful progress through thoughtful stewardship and civic leadership, and her methodical approach, will be critical to making our parks healthier and more inviting to all.
In her new role, Liza will continue to advance the mission to renew, care, and advocate for the Common, the Garden, and the Mall. She will also play a key role in strengthening a longstanding partnership with the City of Boston, spearheading initiatives like the implementation of the Boston Common Master Plan, advancing the Friends’ advocacy agenda as the City’s built and natural environments grow together, supporting park capital improvements, leading strategic initiatives like the Henry Lee Fund for Boston Parks, and enhancing community programming.
“We are thrilled to welcome Liza as we begin this exciting new chapter for our organization and our downtown parks. Liza will join us at The Green & White on April 11 and the Annual Meeting on April 17, where we look forward to introducing her to you, our community.”
Thursday, December 5, 6:00 pm is the date and time of the lighting of the Boston Common. This exciting event takes place near the Visitors Information Center on Tremont St and stars the special tree sent as a gift from Nova Scotia. Mayor Michelle Wu will be joined by Santa and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Refreshments, music, and entertainment will be provided by local groups. Lights on the tree – almost 7,000 of them – go on at about 7:55 pm, followed by lights on 80+ other trees throughout the Common and the Public Garden. This is the 53rd year of the event.
At 8:15, on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, thousands of twinkling white lights transform this tree-filled parkway into a sparkling forest.
Join The Garden Club of the Back Bay on November 21 for a look at the history of Commonwealth Avenue presented by Past President Margaret Pokorny. Her presentation will cover the topographical developments of the creation of the Back Bay and how this design solution to the new land came about. It also covers some of the historical precedents for the “Mall” form, the changes in the Mall over time and the interesting controversies about the design and species choice.
Margaret will bring us up to date with a “State of the Mall” report, including current maintenance needs, additional species selections, statue lighting and conservation programs. She will also tell us about the extraordinary care of the turf and trees provided by the Friends of the Public Garden.
Margaret is a longtime advocate for Boston green spaces, particularly trees. She attended the Radcliffe Seminars Program in Landscape Design in the 1990s. Her thesis was entitled, “A History and Master Plan for the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.“ Margaret’s historical documentation and hands-on skills helped the City of Boston move forward with much of the revitalization of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall over the past 30 years.
Refreshments will be served. This is a members only event, but if you are not already a member you have time to join at https://bostonflora.com. If you are already a member click HERE. The talk will take place November 21 at the Chilton Club, which has a dress code. Women shall wear dresses, skirts, tailored pants, dress pants, or suits. Dresses and skirts must be longer than fingertip length. Leggings are acceptable but only if worn with an appropriate top of mid-thigh length such as a jacket, tunic, or elegant sweater. Denim of any color is not acceptable. Hiking sandals, crocs, sneakers, including designer sneakers, are only permitted if required for a medical condition. Gentlemen shall wear a jacket with a collared shirt or turtleneck.
The Boston Parks Department is sponsoring a guided local hike on December 27 at 3:30 pm, beginning at the Arlington Street Entrance of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Learn about the important role therapy and facility dogs have. Healthy, licensed, well behaved, non-reactive, and leashed dogs are welcome. For more information visit https://www.boston.gov/calendar/hike-boston-therapy-dog-holiday-stroll
The Friends is excited to once again steward the annual Holiday Lights on the Mall. For the first time, the Holiday Lights will extend all the way to Kenmore Square! Join us at the Mayors lighting ceremony on the first block of the Mall on November 30, beginning immediately after the Boston Common Tree Lighting.
The iconic holiday light display along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall was the vision of Parks Commissioner Justine Liff and philanthropists Joan and Ted Bernard Cutler, inspired by the illuminated tree-lined boulevards of Paris. Their sense of civic pride inspired others in the neighborhood to support the cause and the all-volunteer Committee to Light the Commonwealth Avenue Mall was born.
In 2022, the Committee joined with the Friends, creating a new committee to work with the Friends staff to raise the funds necessary to make this annual light display possible and to support the ongoing care of the park.
The Friends is proud to be stewards of this special holiday tradition and excited to work with our community to increase support for the Mall year round.
Today, the lights illuminate the park from early December to April each year and, beginning in 2023, stretch from Arlington Street to Kenmore Square. To donate, and for more information on times, visit https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/holiday-lights/
Please join the Friends of the Public Garden as we flip the switch and celebrate the installation of permanent lighting at the William Lloyd Garrison and Domingo Sarmiento statues on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. On Wednesday, May 24 at 8 pm, gather near the Garrison statue on the Dartmouth-Exeter block. The ceremony will take place near the Garrison, and attendees will then be welcome to travel up to the Gloucester-Hereford block to view the newly lit Sarmiento, as well. The lighting and landscape improvement work was made possible by the generosity of Back Bay neighbors during the Friends’ 50th Anniversary Capital Campaign. To learn more about the May 24 celebration or the Friends’ work in your three parks, please visit friendsofthepublicgarden.org or call (617) 723-8144.
The City of Boston will host a public meeting on The Improvements to Commonwealth Avenue Mall on Tuesday, February 7, at 2 pm at Kenmore Abbey. Neighbors and community members are encouraged to attend. The meeting will focus on the Kenmore Block, west of Charlesgate. Kenmore Abbey is located at 490 Commonwealth Avenue.
