Back Bay Fens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Back Bay Fens |
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The Back Bay Fens viewed from the Boylston Street bridge
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| Location | Fenway–Kenmore, Boston |
| Created | 1879 |
| Designer | Frederick Law Olmsted |
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Olmstead Park System
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| NRHP reference No. | 71000086 |
The Back Bay Fens, often called The Fens, is a cool park and a wild natural area in Boston, Massachusetts. It was created in 1879. A famous designer named Frederick Law Olmsted planned it. The Fens connects to other parks in Boston, forming a chain called the Emerald Necklace. The park also gives its name to the nearby Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood.
Contents
History
The Fens is a big, beautiful park that is part of Boston's Emerald Necklace. It used to be a salty marshland area. This marshland was later surrounded by dry land. It was then changed into a park with fresh water. People also call the park "The Fens" or "The Fenway."
When Boston was first settled in the 1600s, the area was a tidal flat near the Charles River. Over time, it became very smelly because of sewage from the growing city.
To fix this problem and create new land, Boston started big land reclamation projects in 1820. This meant filling in marshy areas with dirt. The filling of the Back Bay area was finished by 1882. The Fens area was completely filled by 1900. These projects more than doubled the size of Boston!
Frederick Law Olmsted's job was to turn this filled-in marsh into a healthy, beautiful place. He wanted it to be a fun area for people to enjoy. He used his amazing landscaping skills to change the smelly swamp. He made it into a winding, calm creek with wooded banks.
Olmsted designed the Fens to be cleaned by ocean tides twice a day. But in 1910, a dam was built at Craigie's Bridge. This dam stopped the ocean tides from reaching the Charles River. So, the Fens became a freshwater area. It now collects stormwater from the Charles River Basin.
Later, another landscape architect named Arthur Asahel Shurcliff added new parts to the park. He designed the Kelleher Rose Garden. He also added an athletic field.
During World War II in 1941, people planted a victory garden in the Fens. These gardens helped people grow their own food during the war. The Fens Victory Garden is the only one still running today. It is a much-loved community garden where people grow flowers and vegetables.
In 1961, local friends and neighbors formed the Fenway Civic Association. They worked to clean their streets and make their neighborhood safer. They also pushed for better care of the park.
In 1983, the Back Bay Fens was named a Boston Landmark. This means it is a special place with historical importance. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy has its main office in the park. It also runs a visitor center there.
Features
Entrances
The Back Bay Fens was designed with six main entrances. These entrances had straight roads and neat lawns. This was a contrast to the wilder parts of the Fens.
The original main entrance was the Beacon Entrance. It connected to Commonwealth Avenue. Today, this area is called Charlesgate Park. It is now separated from the Fens by a big overpass.
The Boylston entrance is where Boylston Street meets the Fenway. A statue of John Boyle O'Reilly was added here in 1894.
The Westland Entrance is on the east side of the Fens. It has beautiful lawns. The Westland Gate marks this entrance. It has marble monuments with lion's-head fountains. This gate became the main entrance around 1905.
The Longwood Entrance follows the Muddy River. It connects the Fens to the Riverway. This area was recently restored. It is now called Justine Mee Liff Park.
Bridges
Several bridges cross the Muddy River within the Fens. These include three road bridges and two footbridges.
The Boylston Street bridge is the largest and most important. It was designed by John C. Olmsted and architect Henry Hobson Richardson. It has a large stone arch. The bridge was built in the 1880s. It was very different from other bridges of its time.
The Agassiz Road bridge connects Park Drive and the Fenway. It has five small brick arches. The bridge uses stones from old walls in Franklin Park.
The Fen Bridge connects Park Drive and the Fenway at the west end. It is also a stone arch bridge. It uses the same type of stone as the Agassiz Road bridge.
There are also two footbridges near the Museum of Fine Arts. They were rebuilt in 1979.
Structures
The Agassiz Road Duck House was built in 1897. It was designed by architect Alexander Longfellow. It used to be a public restroom. It was closed after a fire in 1986.
The Stony Brook Gatehouse was designed by Henry Hobson Richardson. It has a slate roof and stone walls. This building used to control water flow. In 2010, it became the main office for the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. It also serves as a visitor center.
The Fire Alarm Office is a neoclassical building. It was built in 1925. It has large bronze doors. A message on its front talks about fighting fires.
Monuments and memorials
A monument was built in 1973 for baseball player Roberto Clemente. It is a stone marker with a bronze picture of Clemente. It says, "Roberto Clemente: His three loves; Puerto Rico, baseball, and children." The baseball field next to it is also named after him.
The Katharine Lee Bates monument is a granite tablet. It has a bronze plaque with information about Bates. It also includes the words to "America the Beautiful", which she wrote.
Near the Westland Gate is the John Boyle O'Reilly Memorial. This memorial honors the Irish poet and editor. It has a bust of O'Reilly. On the back, it shows a statue of Erin, a symbol of Ireland.
A statue of Robert Burns was placed in the Fens in 1920. Burns was a famous Scottish poet. The statue was moved in 1975 but returned to its original spot in 2019.
The Temple Bell is a bronze bell from Japan. It was made in 1675. It was given to Boston in 1953 as a symbol of peace. Sailors from a US Navy ship found the bell after World War II.
John Endecott Monument
This large monument honors John Endecott. He was an early colonial leader. The statue shows him in old colonial clothes. It has a quote from 1654: "STRONG, VALIANT JOHN WILT THOU MARCH ON, AND TAKE UP STATION FIRST, CHRIST CAL'D HATH THEE, HIS SOLDIER BE, AND FAIL NOT OF THY TRUST."
Veterans Memorial Park
This park has three memorials for soldiers. They are arranged in a circle. It is next to the Kelleher Rose Garden.
The World War II memorial is the oldest and largest. It has a granite monument with names on bronze tablets. A large bronze angel statue sits on top. This memorial also honors Sergeant Charles Andrew MacGillivary, a World War II hero.
The Korean War Memorial is smaller. It has a stone area with a map of Korea. It also has three columns with names engraved on them.
The Vietnam War Memorial is also smaller. It has a stone area with a map of Vietnam. It also has three columns with names engraved on them.
Gardens
The Victory Gardens are now named after Richard D. Parker. He was one of the first people to organize the garden. The Fenway Victory Gardens started in 1942 during World War II. President Franklin Roosevelt encouraged Americans to grow their own food. These gardens are a key part of the Fenway community. People use the plots to grow vegetables or flowers.
The James P. Kelleher Rose Garden is a beautiful rose garden. It was added in 1930. People can learn about growing roses here. In 1975, it was named after James P. Kelleher. He was the Superintendent of Horticulture for Boston Parks. The garden was fully restored in 2008.
Athletic fields
An athletic track and field were built in 1923. Two large stone bleachers were added in 1926. The field house was built in 1928. The 420-meter track and field is now called the Joseph Lee Playground.
Two baseball diamonds were also added. One is dedicated to Roberto Clemente. The other is for Brian and David Cobe. Two basketball courts were added in the 1970s. They are dedicated to Jim Bradley. In 2010, the field was updated to college standards.
Images for kids
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Sunset in the Fens, showing a non-native reed.
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The bridge at the Beacon Entrance, around 1915–1930.
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The Westland Gate shortly after it was finished.
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The Stony Brook bridge in 1898.
