What's New
TBHA, along with the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the Boston Conservation Commission, and Massachusetts Department Environmental Protection, continues to work with property owners to bring new HarborWalk segments on line as quickly as possible. Nearly 38 miles of the 47-mile HarborWalk are now completed with the remainder slated to open in the next few years as waterfront development moves forward.
East Boston
East Boston Greenway: East Boston Greenway: Created as part of the environmental mitigation for the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, the newly-constructed Bremen Street Park features playgrounds, wading/spray pool, large open green lawns, and a community garden. Bremen Street Park extends to Prescott Street, with the East Boston Greenway's biking and walking path extending to Neptune Road. A performance amphitheatre is included in the park's green space. There are benches and picnic tables along the paths, and a bocce court in the park. The park designer, Brown, Richardson & Rowe, worked with a local artist to incorporate a sculptural likeness of East Boston resident Donald McKay, best known as the builder of clipperships, including the Flying Cloud. Be sure not to miss the large map showing the five islands that were filled to create the East Boston of today. Much welcomed drinking water fountains are located in the park, as well as public restrooms in the security building. Twenty-four security is provided by the Massachusetts Port Authority. Visitors can directly access the park from the MBTA's Airport T stop on the Blue Line, in addition from the East Boston Greenway walking and biking trail, from the adjacent Memorial Stadium, and from Bremen Street.
Charlestown
Charlestown Navy Yard: Scheduled to open late summer 2007, Harborview at the Navy Yard, a mixed use development, will include 1.5 acres of open space, all of which will be open to the public. Approximately 550 linear feet of new HarborWalk, extending from the existing HarborWalk at Pier 8 (Shipyard Quarters Marina) all the way along the water's edge to a walkway/view corridor connection at Sixteenth Street, will be built. The new HarborWalk segment will have granite blocks along the seawall, interpretive signs along the waterfront, benches, seat walls facing the water, and an additional meandering path parallel to the HarborWalk with landscaping in between and around each of the features. Additional amenities include a water taxi landing, a walkway adjacent to Haborview leading to First Avenue, public patios adjacent to the building, a covered walkway leading through the building to First Avenue, and public restrooms, all of which will be open for use to the general public.
North End
An interim public walkway, with views of the Zakim Bridge, was constructed at Lovejoy Wharf. The temporary walkway will be replaced with a permanent HarborWalk at the time of redevelopment of the property, connecting with the adjacent HarborWalk.
Lewis Wharf: Visitors to the North End waterfront can now enjoy a new interim HarborWalk segment at Lewis Wharf. Completed in December, 2006, this interim segment is paved to provide better access to the nearby Boston Sailing Center, and has new landscaping as well as Adirondack chairs for viewing the Harbor.
Sargent's Wharf: Thanks to the Boston Redevelopment Authority, a new HarborWalk segment opened in July, 2007 at Sargent's Wharf. The new paved walkway also has well-placed benches to allow the public to enjoy the waterfront.
Long Wharf: Thanks to the Executive Office of Transportation and to the Boston Redevelopment Authority, another new segment along the south side of Long Wharf opened this fall from the Boston Harbor Cruises' building to the end of the wharf. Visitors can watch the activities of the Harbor while enjoying the amenities of this segment including a new boardwalk, benches, and landscaping.
Last December, The Boston Harbor Association began working with the United States Coast Guard to reopen a portion of the HarborWalk next to the Coast Guard base in Boston's North End, closed since 11 September 2001. The pier end of the site accessible from Mirabella Pool will now be open seasonally during daylight hours through 1 November 2008.
As part of the redevelopment of Battery Wharf, a brand new HarborWalk section opened in June 2008. Landscaping and sleek railings surround the brick path, and benches and a dock are soon to follow. Public restrooms and a second-floor observation deck will open by 1 August, 2008. In February 2009, a historic display area will open on the ground floor of the complex next to the HarborWalk.
Fort Point Channel
InterContinental Hotel: Since December, 2006, visitors have been enjoying the newest HarborWalk segment along the Fort Point Channel. As part of the InterContinental Hotel and Residences at 500 Atlantic Avenue, a new HarborWalk segment with a generous walkway, benches, and well-designed landscaping has been a popular spot for visitors. An outdoor cafe next to the HarborWalk opened earlier this summer, and visitors can now take the City Water Taxi to and from the hotel dock.
Central Artery/Tunnel Project and Mass Turnpike Authority segments: The HarborWalk segment at the InterContinental Hotel and Residences connects to the CA/T Project and Massachusetts Transportation Authority recently completed HarborWalk segment next to Russia Wharf along the Fort Point Channel. Visitors can now go from Congress Street to the HarborWalk at the InterContinental Hotel.
This new segment complements the significant additional segments of HarborWalk which the CA/T Project and Mass Turnpike built and opened Fall, 2005. Visitors have been enjoying the new HarborWalk segments from Binford Street to Dorchester Avenue, the segment by Cabot Cove, and on Dorchester Avenue across from the Federal Reserve Bank.
With the Fort Point Channel's improved water quality, employees from the Gillette Company have been sighted catching striped bass during their lunch breaks in 2006.
253 Summer Street: Thanks to Beacon Capital Partners, a missing link between the HarborWalk at 253 Summer Street and the Gillette parcel was completed last year to allow public access from the street to the water's edge.
Boston Children's Museum at 300 Congress Street: The first "green" museum in Boston opened 14 April 2007! Families and the general public are enjoying the newly renovated Boston Children's Museum along the Fort Point Channel. The New Balance Climb, a three story climbing structure, and Kids Power, with bikes, basketball, wall climbing and an interactive dance floor, are already favorites of many children. Visitors can get lunch and snacks at the new Au Bon Pain cafe located in the Museum.
As part of its commitment to "green design", the Museum has integrated roofs with plantings into the new addition; storm water retention system to reduce run-off into the Fort Point Channel; new infrastructure and fixtures to ensure building efficiency; and use of recycled, local, low-emitting building materials.
Completion of repairs to the Congress Street Bridge over the Fort Point Channel in Fall 2008 will include the addition of a new HaborWalk segment on Dorchester Avenue across from the Federal Reserve Bank.
South Boston
NSTAR: Adjacent to NSTAR's K Street Electrical Substation on the Reserved Channel is one of Boston's newest and most attractive HarborWalk segments. Accessible from 1st Street near I Street in South Boston, visitors can enjoy a generous walkway with viewing areas, free pedestal-mounted binoculars, seating, interpretive signage, and landscaping. An original rail from the Transcontinental Railroad, manufactured by the Bay State Iron Works once located on the site, will be added in late 2007. With the completion of the NSTAR segment in June, 2007, Federal Express is under obligation to construct the missing link connecting this HarborWalk segment with the Federal Express segment to the east.
Institute of Contemporary Art: The first art museum to be built in Boston in nearly 100 years, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) opened its new waterfront home on Fan Pier in December, 2006. Its new location in South Boston will draw visitors to the HarborWalk year-round. View cutting-edge art in Boston in this magnificent building designed by the renowned architectural firm of Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The ground floor is open free to the general public, with Wolfgang Puck's Water Cafe, ICA gift shop, and public rest rooms. Thursday evenings, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the entire Museum is open free of charge, thanks to Target. Be sure to check out the free "HarborWalk Sounds" concerts performed by the Berklee College of Music every Thursday night through 23 August 2007 on Putnam Investments Plaza next to the ICA's HarborWalk.
Dorchester
Venezia Restaurant, Port Norfolk: As required by the Department of Environmental Protection and the Boston Conservation Commission, Venezia Restaurant in Dorchester completed a new HarborWalk segment and viewing platform next to the restaurant and planted new landscaping next to the parking area.
West Link: As part of the Department of Conservation and Recreation's "Back to the Beaches" program, the West Link HarborWalk in Dorchester segment behind the Bayside Expo Center was completed connecting Old Harbor Park and Carson Beach. A private-public partnership between the Department of Conservation and Recreation and Corcoran Jennison Company will ensure the maintenance of this segment, which includes benches, trellis, bike racks, drinking fountains, interpretative signage, and park with separate pedestrian and bicycle trails.
Neponset II Park: Opened in 2006, the newest addition to the Department of Conservation and Recreation park system, Neponset II Park provides direct access to the Neponset River. Enjoy the Neponset Greenway walking and biking trail, which runs through the park and connects to the extensive Neponset marshes. The park's ADA-compliant ramp and dock are used extensively for fishing and by non-motorized boats to access the Neponset River. Other amenities include a spray-fountain for children, drinking fountain, interpretive signage, and well-designed landscaping. There are parking spaces for visitors and public restrooms in season at this attractive waterfront park.
