Boston Parks and Recreation Department

Boston Parks and Recreation Department Official page of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department.
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The Boston Parks and Recreation Department provides residents and visitors with clean, green, safe, and accessible open space in more than 2,200 acres of park land throughout the city including parks, playgrounds, athletic facilities, city squares, urban wilds, street trees, three active cemeteries, 16 historic burying grounds, and two golf courses. In addition to maintaining the historic integrit

y of such famous landmarks as Boston Common, the Public Garden, and the other parks comprising Frederick Law Olmsted's Emerald Necklace, the Department services and upgrades facilities ranging from tot lots to the 527-acre Franklin Park. The Department also programs a wide range of community events and live entertainment in the parks under its jurisdiction. The Boston Park Rangers act as the Department's eyes and ears while enhancing public safety. Appointed by the Mayor, the Boston Parks and Recreation Commission serves as the policy-making citizen body that over\sees the operation of the Department and considers matters of public concern.

Saturday, May 30: LoPresti Park Watercolor Workshop is cancelled due to inclement weather. Catch us at Christopher Colum...
05/30/2026

Saturday, May 30: LoPresti Park Watercolor Workshop is cancelled due to inclement weather. Catch us at Christopher Columbus Park in the North End tomorrow!

05/29/2026

Copley Square Park is back in action!🌳✨

Earlier this week, we celebrated an official ribbon cutting with Mayor Michelle Wu 吳弭 and Back Bay neighbors!

The revitalized park was designed by Sasaki to create a more welcoming, accessible, and sustainable civic space while preserving Copley’s role as one of Boston’s beloved gathering places. Some of the highlights include:

🌳 Doubled tree canopy for more shade and comfort
♿ Improved accessibility throughout the park
🪑 More seating and flexible gathering spaces
🚶 Easier movement and stronger connections to Trinity Church and Boston Public Library
🌿 Healthier landscaping and expanded greenery
⛲ Revitalized fountain
💧 Climate-resilient permeable surfaces and stormwater improvements

The reimagined layout also improves the park’s ability to host the events and traditions that make it special, from the Farmer’s Market and Boston Marathon to community events like Open Mic Nights, holiday celebrations, folk dancing, and fitness.

Thank you to all of our many partners including Boston Back Bay,
Trinity Church Boston, Copley Square Farmers Market, Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay, Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston Public Library, ArtsBoston, and so many more.

Whether you’re meeting friends, enjoying a concert, grabbing lunch with coworkers, or simply passing through–there’s something for everyone. Come check it out!

Learn more at boston.gov/copley-square-park

Join us TONIGHTfor the kick-off event to our brand new Parks Open Mic Nights Series! 🎤✨ We will begin this series at Cop...
05/28/2026

Join us TONIGHTfor the kick-off event to our brand new Parks Open Mic Nights Series! 🎤✨ We will begin this series at Copley Square tonight, May 28th, at 6:30 p.m.. So many of our amazing Boston residents have unshared talents, but now is the time to share them! This series will be put on in partnership with junkyard* and Berklee College of Music and it will feature a pre-selected Berklee College student performer, then attendees will have the chance to have their name pulled from a hat to score them a performance of their own. Be there or BE SQUARE! ⏹️

🗓️ Thursday, May 28th
⏰ 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
📍 Copley Square, Back Bay

Learn more at boston.gov/open-mic

Summer Tennis and Reading is back this summer! 🥰🎾 Don’t miss your chance to sign up for this incredible program!We are h...
05/26/2026

Summer Tennis and Reading is back this summer! 🥰🎾 Don’t miss your chance to sign up for this incredible program!

We are here to remind you to register now for a chance to play tennis and do fun fitness activities with engaging reading sessions to help keep both minds and bodies active during the summer months. We are offering programming at 16 locations across Boston for youth ages 6 to 15.

Learn more and register through the end of July at tenacity.org/summer-tennis-reading-program-boston!

Embrace the beauty of Boston's parks and let your creativity bloom with our Watercolor Painting Workshops! 🌺🖌 This FREE ...
05/26/2026

Embrace the beauty of Boston's parks and let your creativity bloom with our Watercolor Painting Workshops! 🌺🖌 This FREE class series begins THIS SATURDAY, May 30th and will run through June 14th. Please register ahead of time at boston.gov/watercolor-workshops

🔴May 30- LoPresti Park, East Boston
🟠May 31- Christopher Columbus Park, North End
🟡June 6- Schoolmaster Hill, Franklin Park
🟢June 7- Boston Public Garden, Downtown
🔵June 13- James P. Kelleher Rose Garden, Fenway
🟣June 14- Jamaica Pond Boathouse, Jamaica Plain

Join us THIS THURSDAY for the kick-off event to our brand new Parks Open Mic Nights Series! 🎤✨ We will begin this series...
05/25/2026

Join us THIS THURSDAY for the kick-off event to our brand new Parks Open Mic Nights Series! 🎤✨ We will begin this series at Copley Square this Thursday, May 28th, at 6:30 p.m.. So many of our amazing Boston residents have unshared talents, but now is the time to share them! This series will be put on in partnership with junkyard* and Berklee College of Music and it will feature a pre-selected Berklee College student performer, then attendees will have the chance to have their name pulled from a hat to score them a performance of their own. Be there or BE SQUARE! ⏹️

🗓️ Thursday, May 28th
⏰ 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
📍 Copley Square, Back Bay

Learn more at boston.gov/open-mic

Today we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Thank you to the volunteers for placing flags...
05/25/2026

Today we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Thank you to the volunteers for placing flags to honor veterans at Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Join us in paying tribute and remembering their courage and dedication. 🇺🇲

📸 Richard Heath

Join us on Wednesday, May 27 at 10:30 a.m. for Mayor Michelle Wu 吳弭’s Back Bay Coffee Hour as we cut the ribbon on the ...
05/22/2026

Join us on Wednesday, May 27 at 10:30 a.m. for Mayor Michelle Wu 吳弭’s Back Bay Coffee Hour as we cut the ribbon on the newly redesigned Copley Square Park! 🌳✨

The revitalized park, designed by Sasaki and constructed by WES Construction Corp., features fully ADA-accessible pathways, expanded planting space, shaded seating areas, restored fountain, and a dramatically expanded tree canopy designed to create a cooler, greener, and more welcoming public space for everyone. 🌿💧

The redesign also improves the park’s ability to host iconic Boston events like First Night, the Boston Marathon, the Boston Book Festival, and the Copley Square Farmers Market while creating beautiful new spaces for everyday gathering and relaxation.

We hope you'll join us to celebrate this exciting new chapter for one of Boston’s most iconic public spaces! Learn more at boston.gov/copley-improvements

📸 Sahar Coston-Hardy/Esto.

📣 Attention North End neighbors! Our community meeting to discuss upcoming improvements to Webster Avenue Playground, or...
05/22/2026

📣 Attention North End neighbors! Our community meeting to discuss upcoming improvements to Webster Avenue Playground, originally scheduled for June 2, will be POSTPONED to a later date.

We’re looking forward to continuing the conversation soon and will share the new meeting date as soon as it’s confirmed. In the meantime, stay in the loop and learn more about the project at boston.gov/webster-ave-playground.

Registration is open for the Summer Sports Clinic Series! ☀️🏋️ Don’t miss your chance to get a spot while you can!The Su...
05/20/2026

Registration is open for the Summer Sports Clinic Series! ☀️🏋️ Don’t miss your chance to get a spot while you can!

The Summer Sports Clinics will begin on July 6, 2026, and run Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Carter Playground. These free weekly sports clinics are open to Boston youth ages 8-14 and will feature popular sports each week, including:

July 6-10: Baseball series
July 13-17: Volleyball series
July 20-24: Soccer series
July 27-31: Lacrosse series
August 3-7: Softball series
August 10-14: BUDA Ultimate Frisbee series

Spots are filling up quickly! Register now online at boston.gov/parks-sports.

Address

1010 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA
02118

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16176354505

Website

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