Fopg
The Friends of the Public Garden works to preserve and enhance Boston’s first public parks – the Boston Common, Public Garden, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall. These iconic green spaces in the heart of Boston help to define our city and attract millions of local, national, and international visitors every year. Some delight in a Swan Boat ride in summer or glide over the ice at the Frog Pond in winter. Many others participate in sports, celebrations, performances, and protests, or simply find respite from the busy urban environment amid surroundings of great natural beauty.
These parks are the front yards of their neighborhoods, the stage of the city, and have provided enduring memories for residents and visitors to Boston now and throughout the centuries.
The Friends plays a vital role in the stewardship of these parks. We work closely with the Boston Parks and Recreation Department to provide and fund the best possible professional care of their irreplaceable collection of mature trees, sculpture, and fountains. We also act as advocates, speaking out for the protection of these parks against misuse and encroachment and educating the public about park issues.
Our 2,500 members come from more than 100 communities across Massachusetts and 31 states.
MY BLOGS
-
Friends of the Public Garden
http://fopg.wordpress.com/
The Friends of the Public Garden works to preserve and enhance Boston’s first public parks – the Boston Common, Public Garden, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall.
The Friends plays a vital role in the stewardship of these parks. We work closely with the Boston Parks and Recreation Department to provide and fund the best possible professional care of their irreplaceable collection of mature trees, sculpture, and fountains. We also act as advocates, speaking out for the protection of these parks against misuse and encroachment and educating the public about park issues.
Our blog highlights our preservation efforts and also serves as an source of information for other functions these delightful parks host throughout the year.
LATEST ARTICLES ( 401 )
-
Friends of the Public Garden 47th Annual Meeting
It was standing room only at the Friends Annual Meeting on April 12. After the usual Board business, Executive Director, Liz Vizza gave an inspiring summary... Read more
Posted on 19 April 2017 OUTDOORS -
Winthrop Square Shadows and Impacts on the Parks
Sunlight-sensitive park resources are those resources which are dependent on sunlight to maintain the overall usability and/or health of a park space, whether i... Read more
Posted on 19 April 2017 OUTDOORS -
Winthrop Square Home Rule Petition Boston City Council
An Act Protecting Sunlight and Promoting Economic Development in the City of Boston ORDERED: That a petition to the General Court, accompanied by a bill for a... Read more
Posted on 19 April 2017 OUTDOORS -
The Irish Connection: Sculpture in Our Parks
March is famous in Boston for St. Patrick's Day and the celebration of all things Irish. The history of the Irish in Boston can be traced, in part, through... Read more
Posted on 14 March 2017 OUTDOORS -
Food Trucks Returning to Boston Common
The Friends of the Public Garden is excited to announce that the following five food trucks have been selected for our 2017 rotating food truck program at the... Read more
Posted on 07 March 2017 OUTDOORS -
Behind the Scenes: Winter Park Work
These days our parks are quiet, often covered with a blanket of snow, the trees dormant and flowers having long disappeared...is the staff on vacation? Not at... Read more
Posted on 16 February 2017 OUTDOORS -
African America History Month: Sculpture in Our Parks
February is African American History Month paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in... Read more
Posted on 16 February 2017 OUTDOORS -
Protests on Boston Common
The Women's March on January 21 on Boston Common was just the latest in a long history of peaceful demonstrations on the Common. "The Common has been at the... Read more
Posted on 16 February 2017 OUTDOORS -
Make Your Voice Heard: Contacting Elected Officials
Below is the list of emails (formatted so you can copy and paste) and phone numbers of the elected officials, City Councilors, and the Mayor. Mayor Marty Walsh ... Read more
Posted on 08 February 2017 OUTDOORS -
Meet the Friends!
Beatrice Nessen, longtime Friend and Advocate Beatrice Nessen has always cared about open space and urban quality of life issues. As a child, she remembers walk... Read more
Posted on 12 January 2017 OUTDOORS -
Shadow Legislation Summary
Two State laws in place for the past quarter of a century have effectively protected Boston's signature public parks from excessive shadowing, while still... Read more
Posted on 11 January 2017 OUTDOORS -
Fact Sheet on Proposed Winthrop Square Tower
● The Friends of the Public Garden is committed to preserving sunlight and preventing shadow creep on the City's landmark public parks, while also... Read more
Posted on 11 January 2017 OUTDOORS -
Advocacy Alert
Dear Friends, Now is the time to let the Boston Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) and your elected officials know your opinion about the Winthrop... Read more
Posted on 09 January 2017 OUTDOORS -
Shadows and Our Parks: Make Your Voices Heard
The last few weeks have seen a significant increase in publicity around the proposed Winthrop Square development and its potential impact on Boston Common and... Read more
Posted on 14 December 2016 OUTDOORS -
Photos of the White Fountain Renovation
We're thrilled to share pictures of the fountain renovation at the George Robert White Memorial in the Public Garden. And as of last week, water is flowing... Read more
Posted on 14 November 2016 OUTDOORS -
Shadows and Our Parks
Dear Friends, We have heard from our members expressing concerns about the Winthrop Square development proposal, and asking about the Friends' position regardin... Read more
Posted on 14 November 2016 OUTDOORS -
The Nature of Cities: Practice and Perception
The Nature of Cities: Practice and Perception - investigates nature and the urban environment from the vantage point of a landscape architect, and a cultural... Read more
Posted on 14 November 2016 OUTDOORS -
Boston’s Christmas Tree Arrives November 18
The annual gift of an evergreen Christmas tree from Nova Scotia will arrive by police escort at Boston Common at approximately 11 a.m. on Friday, November... Read more
Posted on 10 November 2016 OUTDOORS -
Three Cheers to the Rose Brigade
Thank you, Rose Brigade! As the growing season draws to a close, the magnificence of the roses begins to fade. The roses were particularly and extravagantly... Read more
Posted on 09 November 2016 OUTDOORS -
Members Reception: Legacy Parks in a Changing City
This past Tuesday, John Alschuler, Chairman of HR A Advisors spoke to Friends members at our annual Members Reception at the Four Seasons Hotel Boston. John... Read more
Posted on 21 October 2016 OUTDOORS