Emerald Necklace Conservancy

Community programs - park maintenance and restoration programs continued in fy 2023 with the free and public muddy river clean up, tuesdays with roses, second saturdays and do-it-yourself park clean up kits. The Conservancy also held 18 day in the dirt private volunteer days for corporate or institutional groups in fy 2023.the Conservancy continued its focus on revitalizing charlesgate at the nexus of kenmore square, the fenway and the back bay. The Conservancy's watering truck, purchased at the end of fy 2021, has enabled the Conservancy to increase capacity and improve the health of the Necklace's youngest trees. In fy 2023 the Conservancy watered 200 trees in the Emerald Necklace, up 81% over the previous year. Watering is a critical effort in supporting the establishment of young trees.

Olmsted tree society - the olmsted tree society was founded in 2013 as the 10th anniversary project of party in the park to preserve and maintain trees in the Emerald Necklace. Contributions to the olmsted tree society have provided over $2.9 million for the important work of assessing the condition of trees in the Emerald Necklace and planning to ensure their healthy future. The olmsted tree society protects healthy trees with selective pruning and soil enhancement and plants new trees to grow the tree canopy throughout the Emerald Necklace. In fy 2023, the Conservancy planted 10 new trees in the back bay fens and conducted a tree inventory of 1,560 trees in olmsted park to prepare for a pruning project in fy 2024.

Maintenance, restoration and preservation - the Emerald Necklace Conservancy advocates for and conserves the Emerald Necklace through projects and programs to restore and renew the landscape, waterways and parkways of the olmsted-designed park system. The Conservancy brings together the many public and private park partners to prioritize, fund and implement restoration initiatives throughout the park system.

Education and visitor services - the Conservancy's shattuck visitor center is located in the back bay fens at 125 the fenway, across the street from the museum of fine arts. The visitor center is both an educational resource about the parks and a gathering place for the community. A hub of activity, you'll find a variety of free things to do in boston parks at the shattuck visitor center - from walking tours to talks and exhibits.youth education programs include canopy classroom, a field trip program for elementary school students from boston public schools to the Emerald Necklace; green team, a summer work program for high-school students which pairs hands on learning of horticulture in the parks with career exploration, personal development and nature appreciation; and natural ways, a nature-based summer camp for middle school students in partnership with local boys & girls clubs and ymcas to provide a safe space for youth to explore and learn outdoors.