Parks in Boston

Boston Common is the oldest public park in the United States, established in 1634. Spanning 50 acres in the heart of downtown, it serves as the starting point of the Freedom Trail and a gathering place for Bostonians across nearly four centuries.

The Esplanade is a 3-mile parkland along the south bank of the Charles River, stretching from the Museum of Science to Boston University. It serves as Boston's premier outdoor recreation corridor, with the Hatch Memorial Shell as its cultural centerpiece.

The Boston Public Garden, established in 1837, was the first public botanical garden in the United States. Separated from Boston Common by Charles Street, it features Victorian-era plantings, a suspension bridge, and the beloved Swan Boats that have glided across its lagoon since 1877.

Mount Auburn Cemetery (1831) in Cambridge was America's first landscaped cemetery, pioneering the "rural cemetery" movement that later inspired urban parks like Central Park. Its 175 acres of hills, ponds, and 5,000+ trees make it a premier birding destination and arboretum.

The Arnold Arboretum is a 281-acre living museum of trees and shrubs, managed jointly by Harvard University and the City of Boston. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, it forms the crown jewel of Boston's Emerald Necklace park system.

The Rose Kennedy Greenway is a 1.5-mile linear park running through downtown Boston, built over the former Central Artery expressway after the Big Dig project. Its fountains, art installations, and food trucks connect the waterfront to the city's historic neighborhoods.