Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rose Kennedy Greenway |
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The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway as seen from above
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| Type | Linear park |
| Location | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Area | 17 acres (69,000 m2)/1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
| Created | 2008 |
| Operated by | Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy |
| Status | Open all year (daily 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.) |
| Public transit access | South Station Aquarium station Haymarket station North Station |
The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway is a cool linear park in Downtown Boston. It's like a long, green ribbon stretching over one mile through different neighborhoods. You'll find beautiful gardens, walking paths, open spaces, fountains, and even art here!
The Greenway opened in October 2008. It was built on land that became free after the old John F. Fitzgerald Expressway was taken down and moved underground. This huge project was called the Big Dig.
The park is named after Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. She was an important person in the Kennedy family and was born nearby. Her son, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, helped make the Greenway happen.
A group called the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy takes care of the park. They are a non-profit organization that started in 2004. They make sure the park stays beautiful and fun for everyone. They also raise money to keep it running.
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The Greenway's Story
In the 1940s, people started planning a "Highway in the Skies" in Boston. This highway was meant to help with traffic and move goods around. Building the elevated Central Artery began in 1951 and finished in 1959. But it caused many people to move and many buildings to be torn down.
Soon, the highway became very crowded. So, in 1991, a huge project called the "Big Dig" began. This project moved the busy highway underground. It was one of the biggest and most complex highway projects ever in the United States!
With the highway gone from above ground, Boston had lots of new space. City leaders decided to turn this space into parks and gardens. They wanted to connect Boston's old and lively neighborhoods. This is how the Greenway was born!
On October 4, 2008, thousands of people celebrated the opening of the parks. Since February 2009, the Greenway Conservancy has been in charge of the park. Today, the Greenway is a key part of modern Boston. It connects the city, the harbor, and even the nearby islands.
Fun Parks to Explore
The Greenway has several unique parks, each with its own special feel.
Auntie Kay & Uncle Frank Chin Park
This park is at the southern end of The Greenway. It has designs inspired by Asian traditions and art. You'll find a big open plaza and a winding path with bamboo plants. There's also a fountain that looks like a waterfall!
This park is a popular spot for big festivals. Events like the Chinatown Main Street Festival and Films at the Gate happen here. In 2016, fun climbing structures called PlayCubes were added for kids. The park was renamed in 2019 to honor Auntie Kay and Uncle Frank Chin.
Dewey Square Park
Dewey Square Park is a busy spot near South Station. It has gardens, grassy areas, and a plaza. Many people come here for lunch because of the food trucks!
You can also find a farmers market here twice a week during warmer months. The park has special gardens that attract helpful insects. They even grow food here that is given to charities!
Fort Point Channel Parks
These parks are sometimes called the "New American Gardens." They have many different trees and flowers, like those you might see in a New England home garden.
Many volunteers helped plant these parks in 2008. The Greenway Conservancy now takes care of them, adding even more beautiful plants.
Wharf District Parks
The Wharf District Parks connect Faneuil Hall and the Financial District to Boston Harbor. They have open spaces for public events and three grassy areas for relaxing.
In warmer months, these parks host markets, food vendors, concerts, and fitness classes. There's also a special path called the Mothers’ Walk, where bricks are engraved with names and messages.
The Greenway Carousel
The Greenway Carousel opened in 2013. It's not just any carousel! Instead of horses, the animals are hand-carved creatures found around Boston and its harbor. Kids from Boston schools even drew the pictures that inspired the animals! About 100,000 people ride the carousel each year.
Harbor Islands Pavilion
This open-air building is a great place to learn about the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Park rangers are there to help visitors and you can buy ferry tickets to the islands. It opened in 2011.
Armenian Heritage Park
The Armenian Heritage Park remembers the victims of the Armenian Genocide. It also celebrates Boston's history as a place where immigrants from all over the world arrived. The park has a cool "Abstract Sculpture" that looks like a split shape, representing the journey of immigrants. There's also a "Labyrinth," a winding path that celebrates life's journey. The park opened in 2012.
North End Parks
The North End Parks are designed to feel like the nearby North End neighborhood. They have lawns with beautiful plants, like old European gardens. There's also a "canal fountain" with water jets. This fountain reminds people of a time when a canal connected the harbor to factories nearby. Free fitness classes and other events are held here.
Carolyn Lynch Garden
This garden was named in 2018 after Carolyn Hoff Lynch. She loved gardening and helped many charities. Her family gave a large gift to help create this beautiful garden.
Public Art on the Greenway
The Greenway is like an outdoor art museum! It has many cool art pieces, some permanent and some that change often.
One permanent art piece is "Harbor Fog" by Ross Miller.
The Greenway Conservancy often puts up new art exhibits. They have won many awards for their public art! You can see huge murals on a big wall overlooking Dewey Square Park. These murals change every fall.
In 2015, a giant net sculpture called "As If It Were Already Here" by Janet Echelman was hung above the Fort Point Channel parks. It was attached to three tall buildings!
In 2016, sculptures called "Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads" by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei were displayed at the Rings Fountain.
The Greenway also has special art shows. In 2017, they had "Playful Perspectives," with art that made you think about reality. In 2018, "GLOW" featured amazing light-based artworks. And in 2019, "The Auto Show" explored cars and movement, reminding visitors of the old highway that used to be there.
Fun Events and Programs
The Greenway Conservancy organizes over 400 free events each year! These include art festivals, food truck competitions, concerts, and markets. They are for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Many visitors enjoy the fountains, gardens, art, and pathways. The number of visitors has grown a lot, from 96,000 in 2009 to 1.38 million in 2016! There's even free Wi-Fi along the park.
Some regular events include:
- The FIGMENT art festival in July.
- The Boston Local Food Festival in September.
- An artisan market from May to October.
- Free fitness classes like yoga and cardio dance.
- Outdoor movie nights.
- A farmers market at Dewey Square twice a week.
The "Greenway Mobile Eats" program brought Boston's first gourmet food trucks to the park in 2010. Now, over 30 different food trucks visit each year! You can also find outdoor beer gardens here during the warmer months.
Caring for the Greenway Organically
The Greenway Conservancy uses special organic and sustainable methods to take care of the parks. This means they don't use harmful chemicals! The Greenway is Boston’s only public park maintained this way.
Using organic methods helps the plants stay healthy and strong. It also means that water running off the parks won't pollute Boston Harbor or harm marine life. Kids and pets can play safely on the lawns without worrying about pesticides.
The Conservancy has also planted new gardens, like a wildflower meadow. These help create a "pollinator ribbon" to attract and support helpful insects like bees and butterflies.
Gallery
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Truth Booth, by The Cause Collective, in the North End Parks, April 2016
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The Greenway Carousel
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Children play in the Rings Fountain
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GLOW exhibit of historic neon signs, summer 2018
Images for kids
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Dance performance in Auntie Kay & Uncle Frank Chin Park, 2008
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Panoramic view of Parcel 6
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I-93 tunnels pass under the Rose Kennedy Greenway.jpg
I-93 tunnels pass under the Rose Kennedy Greenway
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Big Dig Parcel 12 Panorama 2009.jpg
Parcel 12
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Big Dig Parcel 12 fence, Boston, 2016.JPG
Fencing keeps pedestrians off of the ramp structure of Parcel 12.
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Parcel 18
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Big Dig Parcel 18 pedestrian path, Boston, 2016.JPG
Parcel 18 pedestrian path
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One Canal building under construction on Parcel 2a/b
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Greenway open space and development parcels
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