Olmsted Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Olmsted Park |
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Wards Pond in Olmsted Park in 2014
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| Location | Boston and Brookline, Massachusetts |
| Designer | Frederick Law Olmsted |
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Olmstead Park System
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| NRHP reference No. | 71000086 |
Olmsted Park is a wonderful green space located in Boston and Brookline, Massachusetts. It's a long, narrow park that is part of a famous chain of parks called the Emerald Necklace. This "necklace" is a series of connected parks and roads, all designed to bring nature into the city. The park was first called Leverett Park. But in 1900, it was renamed to honor its brilliant designer, Frederick Law Olmsted.
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Discovering Olmsted Park
Olmsted Park is like two different worlds in one. The southern part of the park is next to a larger pond called Jamaica Pond. Here, you'll find sports fields and three smaller ponds.
The Ponds of Olmsted Park
- Ward's Pond: This is a small, round pond. It's a type of pond called a kettle pond, which forms when a block of ice from a glacier melts.
- Willow Pond: A tiny pond located near Ward's Pond.
- Leverett's Pond: This is the largest of the three ponds in the park.
The Muddy River's Journey
The northern part of Olmsted Park is different. It's a narrow path where the Muddy River flows. This river winds its way through the park on its journey to the Charles River. The very northern edge of Olmsted Park connects to another park area called the Back Bay Fens. It also touches the western side of the Mission Hill neighborhood.
The Vision of Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was a very famous landscape designer. He was well-known for creating New York City's amazing Central Park. In 1880, Olmsted suggested that the Muddy River should be part of Boston's park system. At that time, the river area was quite swampy and had salty water.
How the Park Was Created
Work on the park began around 1890.
- The Muddy River was dug out and shaped into a winding stream.
- A large swampy area was transformed into Leverett's Pond.
- Ward's Pond was connected to the river system with a small stream that flows out of it.
Making the Park Even Better
Over the years, many improvements have been made to Olmsted Park. These changes followed a big plan for the Emerald Necklace parks, which was updated in 2001.
Recent Improvements
- Riverdale Parkway: This road was originally built for horse-drawn carriages. In 1997–98, it was changed into a path for bikes and people walking.
- Allerton Overlook: This special viewing spot at the end of Allerton Street in Brookline was rebuilt.
- Footbridges and Boardwalk: The park's footbridges were repaired. A wooden boardwalk was added at the southern end of Ward's Pond.
Restoring the Babbling Brook
In 2006, the town of Brookline worked to restore a section of the Muddy River in the park. This part is known as Olmsted's "Babbling Brook."
- Stones in the streambed were reset.
- Invasive plants, like knotweed, were cleared out.
- The edges of the stream were made clearer.
- New trees and shrubs were planted to help stop unwanted plants from growing back.
