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Top 10 Boston Parks Moments of 2023

Join us as we count down Boston Parks and Recreation's “Top 10 Moments” of 2023.

Join us as we count down our "Top 10 Moments" of 2023 and reflect on some of our proudest moments as a department and as a community. 

#10: OUR GOLF COURSES OFFER CHALLENGes IN A BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SETTING.
10 . OUR GOLF COURSES OFFER CHALLENGING GOLF COURSES IN A GORGEOUS NATURAL SETTING. Sunset over a golf course.

 

🏌️ The City owns and operates the William J. Devine Golf Course in Dorchester and the George Wright Golf Course in Hyde Park designed by Donald Ross. 

⛳ These affordable courses are open and available to all. Both courses have received national accolades as must-play courses when golfing in the Boston area. 

🎁 For more information on our golf courses or to pick up a last minute Christmas gift for the golfer in your life visit: www.cityofbostongolf.com/

#9: ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL CARES FOR OUR FURRY AND FEATHERED FRIENDS.
9. ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL CARES FOR OUR FURRY AND FEATHERED FRIENDS. Cute dog.

 

🐱 The Animal Care and Control division offers low-cost pet wellness care. They also work to enforce legal ordinances and laws governing animals.

🎁 Here is your opportunity to help care for these snuggle buddies -

#8: HIKE BOSTON EXPLORED BOSTON'S WILDS.
8. HIKE BOSTON EXPLORED BOSTON’S WILDS. - People hiking in the woods, park ranger walking with people.

 

🚶 The Boston Parks Department in collaboration with the Park Rangers and Urban Wilds divisions invited folks to Hike Boston. Rangers and parks employees led groups of hikers through the urban wilds and parks of Boston. These short hikes were a fantastic opportunity for people to enjoy Boston’s Urban Wilds and learn more about our parks and the role of a ranger.

👩‍🏫 One of the primary responsibilities of Park Rangers is Interpretive Programming. We are thrilled to continue to encourage people to appreciate our parks, and in turn, help us protect them.

 

#7: CEMETERY AND HISTORIC BURIAL GROUNDS DIVISIONS CARED FOR THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US.
7. CEMETERY AND HISTORIC BURIAL GROUNDS DIVISIONS CARED FOR THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US. A snow covered winter burial ground scene.

 
  • The Cemetery division manages burial records for over 250,000 gravesites and maintains approximately 200 acres of cemetery land.
  • The Historic Burying Grounds Initiative manages sixteen different burying grounds located in Boston. Some work this year they accomplished included repairs on gravestones at Copp's Hill Burying Ground on more than 200 gravestones and tree plantings.
  • Cemeteries are the final resting places for our loved ones, and caring for them shows respect for their memory. We applaud the job this division does to take care of these important and sensitive spaces.
#6: JENNIFER HUDSON HELPED US RING IN THE HOLIDAYS ON THE BOSTON COMMON.
6. JENNIFER HUDSON HELPED US RING IN THE HOLIDAYS ON THE BOSTON COMMON. Holiday scenes from the BC Tree Lighting

 

🎄 The Parks Department's holiday tree lightings kicked off the holiday season with spirited celebrations. Singer, actor and talk show host Jennifer Hudson joined us on Boston Common for the annual lighting of the city's official Tree as a part of WCVB's "Holiday Lights.” Hudson is one of the youngest performers to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony, also known as an EGOT.

🎁 The event was hosted by Anthony Everett and Shayna Seymour of WCVB's Chronicle, with special performances by Maroon 5's PJ Morton, "Moulin Rouge! The Musical," Spectrum of Sound, Nova Scotia's COIG, and Owen "O'Sound" Lee.

🎆 Watch Jennifer Hudson’s performance on WCVB HERE.

#5: THE URBAN FORESTRY DIVISION EXPANDS AND GROWS TO CARE FOR OUR TREES.
5. THE URBAN FORESTRY DIVISION EXPANDS AND GROWS TO CARE FOR OUR TREES. Trees planted, forest, a worker injecting a tree.

 

🌳 After releasing the Urban Forest Plan and receiving funding last year, the Urban Forestry Division of the Parks Department has filled some critical staff positions. The division has planted 1,226 new street trees, pruned 3,301 trees to help improve and preserve the existing canopy and treated 1,165 mature ash trees to protect them against the Emerald Ash Borer.

🌲 The City of Boston has recently been granted $11.4 million by the U.S. Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry Grant. The Parks Department is responsible for managing public shade trees, including pruning, disease control, removals, and repairs. We work on trees across all 22 neighborhoods in Boston, during both fall and spring seasons. You can learn more about our efforts to maintain a healthy urban forest by visiting our website. Learn more about the Urban Forestry Division here: https://www.boston.gov/caring-bostons-urban-forest

#4: DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION BROKE GROUND AND CUT RIBBONS ALL OVER BOSTON.
4. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION BROKE GROUND AND CUT RIBBONS ALL OVER BOSTON. - Ribbon cuttings with the mayor and a crowd, new playground, new basketball court.

 

🚧 We celebrated quite a few projects in 2023. We cut ribbons on 8 parks and reached substantial completion on a total of 13 parks.

🏞️ We broke ground on 15 parks in 2023, including Copley Square Park. 

👷 To see all of our Design and Construction projects going on throughout the city visit bit.ly/BPRDProjectMap.

🎉 In 2024, resolve to send us your feedback on how we can improve or join us to celebrate the completion of a park project near you!

 

#3: MAINTENANCE WORKED TO KEEP OUR PARKS SAFE AND CLEAN.
3. MAINTENANCE WORKED TO KEEP OUR PARKS SAFE AND CLEAN. Greenhouse worker handing out flowers, fixing a bench, trash truck.

 

⚒️ While maintaining and cleaning our parks they also addressed thousands of 311 calls and service requests.

🗑️ Thank you to our hard working folks of maintenance, horticulture, trees, and trades for keeping our parks and properties looking great. Keep up the good work!

🛠️ There are a few positions open if you’re looking to join an awesome team, visit: Boston.gov/Careers

 

#2: THE RECREATION DIVISION BROUGHT YOUTH ATHLETIC PROGRAMS ALL OVER BOSTON.
THE RECREATION DIVISION BROUGHT YOUTH ATHLETIC PROGRAMS ALL OVER BOSTON. Hickey, Soccer, Archery, Yoga, and Cross Country.

 

⚽ The Recreation division brought programming to youth all around Boston this year. Summer Programs include Willie O'Ree Street Hockey Clinics, Boston Baseball League (BCBL), Women's and Men's Adult Basketball League, Boston Neighborhood Basketball League (BNBL), Men's Softball Leagues, Tenacity, Mayor's Cup Tennis, Boston Neighborhood Soccer League, Football Jamboree, Mayor's Cup Softball, Mayor's Cup Baseball, Mayor's Cup Street Hockey, Mayor's Cup Ice Hockey, Mayor’s Cup Pickleball Tournament and Junior Golf Lessons.

🏈 Free Winter, Summer and Fall Fitness Classes kept more than 7566 Bostonians Moving during 603 hours of free virtual and in-person classes including boot camps, chair yoga, line dancing, barre, HIIT, Yoga, Family fitness, Afrobeats Bootcamp, Tai Chi and Salsa.

🏒 Summer Sport Centers were conducted at East Boston Stadium, Garvey Park in Dorchester, Hunt/Almont in Mattapan, Ronan Park Dorchester and White Stadium at Franklin Park where 16,373 kids were able to safely participate with clinicians in activities such as street hockey, lacrosse, tennis, baseball, pickleball, archery, obstacle courses, fitness classes, arts n crafts and more.

🏓 They also explored emerging and upcoming sports where pickleball, archery, and ultimate disc were taught and explored.

#1: PARKS PROGRAMS AND EVENTS ENTERTAINED THOUSANDS.
1. PARKS PROGRAMS AND EVENTS ENTERTAINED THOUSANDS - Concerts and movie nights. Arts and crafts and festivals.

 

🎸 We are proud to have served more than 40,000 people through our programming. Our Summer Concert Series and Movie Nights entertained thousands across the city. Watercolor workshops and arts and crafts workshops helped kids express themselves and appreciate our parks.

🎈 Children's festivals drew large attendance with rave reviews. 

📋 Our permitting division issued a large number of permits for events and sports programs in our parks throughout the city.

🎉 2023 was a great year and we can’t wait to see what 2024 brings!

Highlight of images form top ten. Concert, holiday performance, dog, festival, park ranger, workers, yoga, ribbon cutting.

🎉 2023 was an awesome year for the Boston Parks Department. We know 2024 will be even better!

🎆 From everyone here at the Parks Department, we wish you a happy & safe #NewYear. We will work hard to bring you even more great events, programming & park improvements in #2024!

🏞️ To stay up-to-date on all of our work, sign up for our newsletter: bit.ly/Get-Parks-Emails

 

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