The Greenway Conservancy Rift with MassHort
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 "Greater Boston with Emily Rooney" takes a detailed look at the past, present and future of Parcels 19, 21 and 22, near the Intercontinetal Hotel/Residences.
The video segment is called, "The Greenway Rift" with the following excerpt: "The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy Board plans to redesign some parcels near South Station. The idea is to provide space for farmers' markets and art fairs. But it would require removing scenic gardens planted by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society after thousands of hours of volunteer work. Richard Dimino, the president of A Better City, and Robert Brown who served on the Central Artery Competition Task Force discuss the rift between the Greenway and MassHort with Emily."
There is a letter being distributed for a group that is forming to support the Greenway Gardens:
"Many of us want to preserve gardens and greenspace for today and for our future. Pass the word to other garden lovers! We are looking forward to an opportunity to work with you, and to collaborate with The Conservancy to maintain world class gardens! Together, we can make our city beautiful!"
Interested folks should contact Diane at dianevalle@gmail.com for more information.
Click here to read the entire letter from the Friends of the Greenway Gardens.
And here is an event notice from the Conservancy and WalkBoston:
WalkBoston will host weekly free walking tours every Thursday from 12:15 pm-1:00 pm until the end of November. These tours will leave from the Information/Flower Kiosk on the corner of Washington and Winter Streets.
* November 19th: The Rose Kennedy Fitzgerald Greenway Find out how the Greenway grew, with details of how the Big Dig accommodated pedestrian needs along and across its downtown route. For more information about WalkBoston, go to www.walkboston.org.
Parks/Playgrounds 
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Reader Comments (8)
Thanks for your comment. I occasionally post news/links that is of interest to folks in the North End/Waterfront area in adjacent areas, like Quincy Market, Gov't Center, Charlestown and the other parts of the Greenway. Folks tell me they like to hear about the Greenway because it has such an impactful presence on the neighborhood and the city. I attend most of their meetings and this has been a hot topic. But thanks for your feedback. --Matt
Thank you for keeping us all apprised of the Greenway Conservancy plans. It's outside of the North End, but I, and many other, appreciate the news - it's important to us.
As for the Garden, it should be left until long term plans are made- why does the Conservancy think all the Greenway needs "programming" to be good??? There are plenty of other flat spaces for art fairs and other sideshows. This is one of the few parcels that actually has a garden. It should remain.
Thanks,
Mary
I think this area is desperately needs some active programing - events, learning opportunities, and badly needed infrastructure - seating, lighting, proper pathways, food vendors, etc.
While some of the gardens are nice (and I'm sure a lot of the plants will stay) they are temporary. As a commuter, I walk through these parks everyday and get a real sense of their temporary (eroded stone dust pathways, haphazardly planted shrubs and plants, poorly seeded turf, and at one point exposed drip irrigation tubes) . I am grateful for the volunteers, Mass Hort, and the Greenway Conservancy for coming together and producing these great temporary gardens, but being in the middle of downtown, these parks certainly need something more engaging and we can start with engaging public activity.
I really hope we don't keep these parks as they are - it's beginning to feel a little more like a country club rather than a dense, urban city.
(PS: I really don't get from the Greater Boston segment what this "rift" is? Sounds like someone is upset.)
Thanks.
A nice verdant strand is what we were supposed to get with the GREEN...WAY. Mary is spot on with the idea that programming is not a necessary component of a successful GREEN...WAY. Hello has a point. The gardens were meant to be temporary. The plantings are a bit disjointed. Some of the lovlier selections failed to thrive in the environment. And the park feels unfinished.
But that does not mean we need to throw out the garden concept.
I would really love to preserve the garden theme--and also consider ways for engagement. Facing Benches? Maybe a nice piece of art? But please--no need for programming. Everything in life does not need to be an activity or event.
And that is not the best spot for a farmer's market either. The transportation is more central in Haymarket.
I mean, I am just so tired of the Greenway becoming everything but! I don't want to look back on the highway days and start singing, "Those Were The Days!"
The CON-servancy lacks "green spirit" and disregards community concerns.
The CON-servancy is using public land for private profit, and to support an unproductive bureaucracy.
The Greenway is the promise of greenspace: grass, plants, shrubs, and trees for residents in neighborhoods from North Station to The Mass Pike, where contact with Nature is sorely needed.