W thought we would share an update from the Esplanade Association on the Eliot Memorial project we here at The Garden Club of the Back Bay have helped fund during the past three years:

“We have seeded the grass, installed stone dust around the memorial and added 6 new Shurcliff benches and 2 new curved benches. The 32-foot curved benches around the Memorial are proving very popular and are often occupied with people reading or waiting for Community Boating participants. The entry to Community Boating itself is now a welcoming spot with beautiful plantings and rationalized pathways resulting in less asphalt and more green.
Our maintenance plans are already underway. The shrubs and groundcovers survived the winter well, though a few are being replaced. The grass has been seeded and is coming is well, although a few spots will likely need to be over-seeded later this summer. We plan to leave the short fencing up around the grassy areas until after the Fourth of July crowds.

We believe that great parks help make communities great … Public spaces provide an important connection to nature for urban dwellers, both rich and poor.  A successful public space involves thoughtful design and an achievable maintenance strategy.  Once built, the space engages park users and provides a myriad of benefits to the physical and mental health of individuals and to the economic vitality of an area.

We thank you again for your support of the creation of a great new gathering spot in the park.  This is one of the very few well-framed spaces on the Esplanade where small groups can gather and feel comfortable.  The area displays a wonderful balance of enclosure and openness which will get even better as the plants grow in.  The project also demonstrates critical aspects of proper horticultural maintenance that will inform our future efforts.”

For more information about the Esplanade, visit www.esplanadeassociation.org.