Franklin and Blackstone Squares facts for kids
Blackstone and Franklin Squares are two lovely public parks in the South End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. They are great places for people to relax and enjoy nature right in the city.
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What Are Blackstone and Franklin Squares?
These two parks are separated by a street called Washington Street. They are surrounded by other streets like Brookline Street, St George Street, Newton Street, and Shawmut Avenue.
An iron fence goes all around each park. You can enter the parks at each of their corners. Blackstone Square also has an entrance where Pembroke Street meets Shawmut Avenue. Franklin Square has another entrance along Newton Street.
Blackstone Square is about 2.44 acres big. Franklin Square is a little larger, at 2.48 acres. Both parks are cared for by the National Park Service.
How Are These Parks Protected?
These parks are protected by a special part of the Massachusetts State Constitution. This law helps make sure that people have clean air and water. It also protects the natural beauty and history of places.
This law means that lands like these parks are for public use. They cannot be used for other things unless a very large number of lawmakers agree. This helps keep these green spaces safe for everyone to enjoy.
Getting There
You can easily reach Blackstone and Franklin Squares using public transportation. The MBTA Silver Line routes SL4 and SL5 go there. You can also take bus routes #8 and #10.
A Look Back: History of the Squares
How the Parks Started
A man named Charles Bulfinch designed the plan for the South End area of Boston. He first wanted Blackstone and Franklin Squares to be one big park called Columbia Square.
Franklin Square opened its gates in 1849. Blackstone Square opened a few years later, in 1855.
A TV Star Park!
The St. James Hotel is a building near Franklin Square. Today, it is called the Franklin Square House Apartments. This building was famous because it was shown in the popular 1980s TV show St. Elsewhere. The show was about a hospital.
Bringing the Parks Back to Life
In 1979, the parks were not looking their best. A local person named Brian Davidson decided to help. He started picking up trash himself. After several years, the city of Boston began a big project to fix up the parks. This project added new fences, fountains, benches, and trees.
What You Can See: Features of the Parks
Trees and Plants
Many different kinds of trees grow in and around the parks. Around the outside edges of the parks, you will see Sugar Maple trees (Acer saccharum). Inside the parks, along the walking paths, there are Silver Linden trees (Tilia tomentosa). Franklin Square also has a very large White Oak tree (Quercus alba).
Beautiful Fountains
Each park has a fountain. They are both in the center where the walkways meet. At the bottom of each fountain, there are four fish designs. These fish surround a fancy stand that holds a large bowl shaped like a seashell.
