Boston Flora

Tag: Esplanade Association

  • Wednesday, April 15, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Eastern – 25th Annual Meeting of the Esplanade Association, Online

    The 25th Anniversary Annual Meeting of The Esplanade Association will take place online Wednesday, April 15 at 6 pm Eastern. Register HERE. Special guest: Stephanie Fletcher presenting on “25 Species for 25 Years”, highlighting 25 animal species that call the Esplanade home and her biodiversity work using the iNaturalist app. 

    Stephanie has had a lifelong love for nature. From a young age, she was observing insects, adopting and raising orphaned wildlife, and smelling any flower within reach. She graduated with a degree in Economics and a minor in Business Management from Syracuse University, then worked as a Sales Manager for Bloomberg’s multimedia and equity trading division in New York for 10 years.

    In 2003, she became a full-time mother and dedicated volunteer for educational and nature-focused non-profits like the Learning Project and Mass Audubon. She is heavily involved with many local green space organizations, like the Esplanade Association, the Garden Club of the Back Bay, and the Friends of the Public Garden. In 2025, she became a Certified Field Naturalist through Mass Audubon and a Certified Pollinator Steward through UMass Amherst. Her discovery of the first Joro Spider in New England was featured in Scott Loarie’s TEDx Boston talk on the power of using iNaturalist as a tool to discover and log biodiversity for scientific study.

  • Friday, April 24 – Saturday, April 25 – The Charles River Earth Day Cleanup

    Working with our partners at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Charles River Conservancy, Waltham Land Trust, and Esplanade Association, we collect trash from the Charles River and surrounding area with thousands of incredible volunteers. The Earth Day Charles River Cleanup builds on a national effort as part of American Rivers’ National River Cleanup®, which has removed over 25 million pounds of trash from America’s waterways. Our cleanup brings together over 3,000 volunteers each year to pick up litter, remove invasive species, and assist with park maintenance along all 80 miles of the Charles River. Registration is now open at https://www.crwa.org/earthdaycleanup

  • Wednesday, October 29, 10:00 am – Boston Committee of the GCA Annual Fall Meeting – What’s Good Along the Charles River

    The Boston Committee of the GCA invites member and affiliate Club members to The Country Club on Clyde Road in Brookline on Wednesday, October 29. Coffee and lecture begin at 10:00 am and optional lunch begins at noon. There will be short remarks by Esplanade Association Executive Director Jen Mergel (below) and Esplanade Association Arborist Jim Doyle. They will speak about What’s Good Along the Charles River, and you will learn more about the native tree grove that the Boston Committee will fund. There will also be another speaker, to be announced. For more information visit https://bostoncommitteegca.org/

  • Thursday, July 17, 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm – Summer Dock Party – CANCELLED

    Join the Esplanade Association on July 17 for the Annual Summer Dock Party at Community Boating, Inc in Boston. From 6:30 – 10, enjoy a fantastic evening set against the sunset views of the Charles River and the beautiful Eliot Garden. Mingle with 300 fellow Esplanade supporters while savoring tasty food, sipping cool drinks, and dancing to music from a live DJ. All ticket proceeds go towards the Esplanade Association’s mission to enhance, maintain, and sustain the iconic park. Early Bird price of $129 will be available through July 8, $139 thereafter. All tickets will have a $25 tax-deductible contribution. For more information visit HERE.

  • Saturday, September 21, 6:00 pm – Moondance Gala and Moondance After Dark

    Enjoy a spectacular, memory-making evening at the Esplanade Association’s Moondance Gala this September 21. The sparkling Charles River is the backdrop for sunset cocktails under the tree canopy, an elegant dinner and inspiring program in the Grand Tent, and dancing to cap off the night as the stars appear. Celebrate and support all that makes Boston’s iconic riverside park as vital and vibrant as it is today. For tickets and more information visit https://esplanade.org/moondance/

  • Thursday, July 18 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm – 13th Annual Summer Dock Party

    Set against the incomparable backdrop of the Charles River at sunset, as well as in the lovely Eliot Garden, the Esplanade Association’s Annual Summer Dock Party has become a social highlight for Bostonians.

    Each year approximately 400 guests enjoy a sunset dinner and dancing to a live DJ on the docks. Funds raised support the Esplanade Association’s work to revitalize, enhance, program, and maintain the park while providing the community with free summer programming.

    Make sure you’re at the party of the summer! Tickets include entry, dinner, open bar of beer, wine & hard seltzer, and a chance to win door prizes – including roundtrip airfare for two courtesy of JetBlue. For every event ticket purchased you will be entered to receive one of our fabulous door prizes. 

    Each year approximately 400 guests will enjoy a sunset dinner and drinks, as well as dancing to a live DJ at Community Boating, Inc. Funds raised support the Esplanade Association’s work to revitalize, enhance, program, and maintain the park while providing the community with free summer programming. If you have any questions, please email Lauren Vitacco at lvitacco@esplanade.org.  Tickets – $129 per person. Register HERE

  • Now through noon, April 17 – Vote the Charles River Esplanade the Best Riverwalk of 2024

  • Jen Mergel is New Executive Director of Esplanade Association

    The Board of Directors of the Esplanade Association is pleased to announce Jen Mergel has been named the first James and Audrey Foster Executive Director.

    Beginning June 1, 2023, Mergel will lead the non-profit dedicated to revitalizing and maintaining the iconic 64-acre park along the Charles River while providing engaging programming that benefits the broad community.

    Mergel is a nationally respected cultural leader and contemporary art curator dedicated to her hometown of Boston. Prior to joining the Esplanade Association, she served as Senior Advisor for Cultural Partnerships and Parks Equity, Director of Experience and Cultural Partnerships, and Guest Curator for the award-winning exhibition, Fog x FLO Fujiko Nakaya, at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. She built the Conservancy’s capacity to invite more inclusive and impactful park experiences through partnerships with history keepers, change agents, and thought leaders in public art and design as well as cultural stewardship. The newly endowed position was established by a generous contribution from philanthropists James and Audrey Foster, and Jen Mergel will be the first James and Audrey Foster Executive Director.  Beginning June 1, Jen can be reached at jmergel@esplanadeassociation.org. She looks forward to working with you, our Park’s dedicated supporters, partners, and neighbors in our shared care and enjoyment of this signature public space. Photo ©Morgan Anderson. Courtesy of Emerald Necklace Conservancy

  • Thursday, June 22, 5:00 pm 7:30 pm Eastern – Charlesbank Landing Public Meeting, Live and Online

    Join The Esplanade Association for a public meeting to discuss the plan to build the Esplanade’s first year-round visitors center: Charlesbank Landing.  They will review the design plans and timeline, and want to hear from YOU to help plan for community programming. Refreshments, child care, and translation services will be provided. 

    Register for the event here: Charlesbank.eventbrite.com

  • Thursday, July 20 – Summer Dock Party: Save the Date

    The Esplanade Association announces the 12th Annual Summer Dock Party, this year to be held on Thursday, July 20.,set against the incomparable backdrop of the Charles River at sunset, as well as in the lovely Eliot Garden. The event has become a social highlight for Bostonians. Approximately 400 guests will enjoy a sunset dinner, drinks, and dancing at Community Boating, Inc. The funds raised at each year’s event will support the Esplanade Association‘s work to revitalize, enhance, program, and maintain the park, while providing the community with free summer programming. For complete details, visit https://esplanade.org/events/