Updates, news, and park concept drawings from One Waterfront | Trustees Webinar

What are the latest updates on the Boston Waterfront Initiative, and which waterfront park sites are being considered and pursued? The One Waterfront team hosted a webinar on Wednesday, May 20 to provide the latest information on the initiative, and give some history on how the effort has evolved.

“In this webinar we want to give you a sense of where the initiative came from, the thinking behind it, how that’s evolved and where we are today,” said Trustees Executive Vice President Jocelyn Forbush. “We’re just at the cusp of what we think is an exciting moment of the initiative where we may have our first open space opportunity in hand shortly.”

Many waterfront Boston neighborhoods, built on flooded tidelands over centuries of development, are under threat from sea level rise including East Boston and South Boston. Mayor Martin J. Walsh and his administration have launched several planning efforts to address these threats and develop solutions: Imagine Boston 2030, Climate Ready Boston, and the Resilient Boston Harbor Vision.

“The Trustees have contributed to this thought leadership throughout these planning processes,” noted Nick Black, Managing Director of the Boston Waterfront Initiative. “Ultimately these plans will require action and implementation, and One Waterfront stands ready as a strategic partner with the City of Boston to do just that—to take these plans and turn them into action.”

Working with renowned American landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh, One Waterfront has developed concept drawings for potential parks in different neighborhoods of the City, many of which share a common threat of monthly tidal flooding as well as storm surge due to sea level rise. The concepts each incorporate natural edges in their design, allowing easier access to the water, but also building resilience to protect neighborhoods, and ensuring the parks can withstand saltwater inundation.

Notably, a majority of webinar participants felt that having natural plantings that protect the city should be a high priority in building a waterfront park, and expressed excitement about the potential for a more accessible and active waterfront, according to live polling during the session.

Wednesday’s presentation ended with a Q&A opportunity, and team members provided new information on funding, timing, and the community input process.

To watch the presentation, click the embedded video module above. Alternatively, view it on YouTube by clicking here.

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The One Waterfront webinar is part of a series of virtual presentations hosted by The Trustees in May, including presentations on Great Marsh restoration projects, rose garden revitalization at the Crane Estate, and an inside look at the 1918 flu pandemic from The Trustees archives. To view the entire series, click here.