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Here is where we put our work into perspective. Chronicling our milestones gives us—and our neighbors—a real sense of what we have accomplished and what we are poised to achieve. Find out what we have been up to lately.
DCR TRAFFIC ADVISORY: SIDEWALKS RESTRICTED ON LONGFELLOW BRIDGE
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) crews will be conducting routine testing on the Longfellow Bridge, requiring sidewalks to be closed on the following schedule. From Wednesday, April 30 - Thursday, May 1, and from Saturday, May 3 - Sunday, May 4, the upstream sidewalk will be closed. Pedestrians will be detoured to the sidewalk on the opposite side of the bridge. Both sidewalks will be open by Monday morning, May 5.
TEAM ESPLANADE CROSSES FINISH LINE FOR RUNNING & FUNDRAISING! Click here to view our TEAM ESPLANADE photo gallery
Please click here to make a donation to TEAM ESPLANADE
Congratulations to TEAM ESPLANADE for completing the 26.2 mile 2008 Boston Marathon®. The Esplanade Association is proud of their success and we are extremely grateful for their tremendous effort and dedication.
The team has been tireless in their marathon training as well as with their fundraising for TEA. The team's fundraising efforts have surpassed our goal of $60,000 by almost $5,000!
The Cloud Place Marathon Party, which included a live broadcast coverage of the event and a light lunch by Elena Demedeiros Catering, was a remarkable success. Friends, family, and supporters cheered the runners as they crossed the finish line from the windows and balcony of the Cloud Place. Ten of our fifteen runners joined in on the celebration after running the entire marathon! A special thanks to our sponsors, supporters, and volunteers who helped to make Marathon weekend a success.
Click here to view TEAM ESPLANADE results
PARK STUDY RESULTS SHOW STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE ESPLANADE
"The Esplanade: Public Use, Perceptions and Needs" (pdf 1.54 MB)
At it's seventh annual Board Meeting on April 3, 2008, The Esplanade Association (TEA) presented the results from its first user survey of the Esplanade, "The Esplanade: Public Use, Perceptions and Needs," conducted by Elizabeth Vizza Consulting and People, Places & Design Research, and funded by The Boston Foundation.
While plans have surfaced threatening to put a bypass road through the Esplanade, the park study emphasizes that the park is a treasured resource for city dwellers, suburban neighbors and visitors from near and far.
Given the choice of whether the Esplanade is a 'major', 'moderate', or 'minor' factor in their enjoyment and appreciation of Boston, 85 percent of city residents surveyed in the park said it's a 'major' factor in their enjoyment and appreciation of Boston, with no difference between people who live in the nearest five zip codes vs. people from elsewhere in the city. Additionally, 66 percent of people from the metro Boston area and visitors from elsewhere in the world said the Esplanade is a 'major' factor' for them. The findings also made clear that the Esplanade is not solely a neighborhood resource; in fact, the majority of users do not live adjacent to the park.
Quantitative research was conducted through the Park User Study via interviews with hundreds of randomly selected visitors, counts and categorizations of 25,000 people entering the park, and behavioral mapping; observing over 6,500 people using the park.
TEA plans to use this objective and systematic analysis of the park to contribute to its efforts to protect, enhance and restore the historic Charles River Esplanade by better understanding of who uses the park, when and for what purposes. Since 2001, TEA has invested more than $3 million to renovate and maintain the entire three-mile stretch of the Esplanade.
Please click below to view the user survey report:
"The Esplanade: Public Use, Perceptions and Needs" (pdf 1.54 MB)
MSPCA AND T.E.A WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE GEESE CONFLICTS
The Living With Wildlife program of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) has produced a 13-minuted DVD: Resolving Conflicts with Canada Geese in Massachusetts, that includes commentary from TEA's own Jen Roy and Trinidad Rodriguez.
This DVD provides information on the natural behavior of resident and migrating Canada geese, information on how communities can prevent and resolve Canada geese conflicts by following the three strategies of the nationally recognized GeesePeace program, and testimonials from communities in Massachusetts that have dramatically decreased conflicts with Canada geese by embracing the GeesePeace Program.
Please click on the links below to view video:
Resolving Canada Geese Conflicts: Part 1
Resolving Canada Geese Conflicts: Part 2
BOSTON DESIGN CENTER (BDC) HOSTS GALA BENEFIT FOR T.E.A.
BDC Dream Home 2008, The Ultimate Design Installation, is an unprecedented design event showcasing the extraordinary talents of 9 of the area's hottest design firms and the luxury resources available only at The Boston Design Center.
Located on the 6th floor of the Boston Design Center, each room will provide inspiration, and plenty of creative, "take home" ideas for visitors. The interactive website will allow consumers and designers alike to enter each room of the installation to see the very best of New England design and style. The website will include virtual tours of each designer's room, designer portfolios and interviews, roll-over room shots with point and click e-commerce and much more.
The BDC Dream Home launches with a gala benefit for The Esplanade Association on 5/1/08 and opens to the public on 5/2/08.
For more information visit: www.bostondesign.com or contact Lauren Rosenberg at lrosenberg@bostondesign.com
On Wednesday, August 15th, Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Rick Sullivan informed the meeting of the joint Storrow Drive transportation and landscape advisory committees that a temporary by-pass road on the Esplanade was again under consideration during the construction phase of the project.
In the year and a half of public meetings for this project (meetings began in February 2006) this option has never been discussed or presented by the DCR as part of the public process. It was further understood that using the park as a temporary roadway was not a consideration of the DCR, and the Storrow Drive Tunnel project was not solely about traffic but a significant opportunity to improve the Esplanade and mitigate the impacts of Storrow Drive on the park.
In a letter to the editor on January 8, 2006 DCR Commissioner Stephen Burrington wrote,
“We have a chance to improve the Esplanade for future generations. When we reconstruct the tunnel, why not redesign Storrow Drive to calm traffic or put more of it underground? We should explore opportunities to reduce traffic impact and make Storrow Drive less of a barrier between the Esplanade and Back Bay.
Like those who have spoken out recently, I have no interest in routing traffic onto any part of the Esplanade during the construction period.”
The Esplanade Association’s Position:
The Esplanade Association strongly opposes the use of the Esplanade as a by-pass road during the construction of the Storrow Drive reconstruction project.
We further request that the DCR work in cooperation with transportation officials from the City and State to develop a comprehensive regional plan for traffic during construction that does not encroach upon the Esplanade.
Throughout the public process key concepts regarding the project have emerged. These include:
Sign the on-line "Save the Esplanade" petition stating your opposition to the Charles River Esplanade being used as a temporary by-pass road. Everyone who loves the Esplanade can do this, regardless of where you live.
It is critical that our public officials hear from you. Click here to view the contact information of our current public officials. Write a letter to any or all of them and include as many of the above points as are helpful but also remember to speak from your heart. Make your voice heard on this critical issue. Please copy us on your letters (info@esplanadeassociation.org) so we can track public opposition.
Please click the links below for more information:
What is a Boston Landmark?
Isn’t the Esplanade already designated as a Boston Landmark?
What should I do with this petition?
Each petition can be signed by up to 10 people (so have your friends and neighbors sign it too) and must be submitted to Sarah Kelly at the Boston Preservation Alliance 617-367-2458x11 by November 1st. All signers must be registered voters in the city of Boston.
DCR has described the area of the park to be impacted as running from the base of the Fielder footbridge to either Berkeley or Dartmouth Street. The road would consume 40’00” of parkland at a minimum. It is unclear if that figure includes a buffer zone for pedestrians.
The following are images of the area to be used by the by-pass road:
Photo (1)- (3) by Patrice Todisco
Click here to view: HISTORY ADAPTED FROM TEA’S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT by Shary Page Berg
LISTEN: 1-hour interview with Commissioner Sullivan on WBZ, 8/16
Archived News Stories
Archived Media Coverage
“They say the Boston parklands form an emerald necklace around our great city. I say the Esplanade is the complementary bracelet that completes the outfit. It’s a special place for relaxation, exercise, entertainment, solitude.”
Jeff Bellows
Vice-President, The Esplanade Association, 2004-2005
The Esplanade Association
10 Derne Street
Boston, MA 02114
617.227.0365
Media Coverage:
The Beacon Hill Times , 4/22/2008, Team Esplanade's Final Group Meeting Before Marathon
The Boston Courant, 4/12/2008, User Survey Results Reveal Goose Droppings Are Top Esplanade Concern
WBZ-TV Inteviews TEAM ESPLANADE Runner About 'Fit Boot'
The Beacon Hill Times, 4/8/2008, TEA Discusses User Survey Results at Annual Meeting
The Beacon Hill Times, 1/8/2008 Boat Haven Partners give $400,00 to Esplanade Docks
The Boston Globe, 11/30/2007, Landmark Status Sought for Esplanade
The Boston Globe, 11/15/2007, Advocates Seek Landmark Status for Esplanade
The Boston Globe, 11/09/2007, Storrow Tunnel to Undergo Repairs
The Beacon Hill Times, 10/02/2007, The Advent School Partners with TEA
The Boston Globe, 8/16/2007, Proposed Storrow Drive Detour
NECN Reports on Controversial Storrow Drive Plan, 8/16/2007
The Beacon Hill Times , 8/14/2007, Teen Leaders Beautify Esplanade
The Boston Globe, 8/08/2007, Assaults on Esplanade Linked
Back Bay Sun, 7/13/2007, New and Improved Drinking Fountains
Back Bay Sun, 7/6/2007, Boston Landmarks Orchestra at the Hatch Shell
Back Bay Sun, 7/6/2007, The Joy of Model Sailing
Back Bay Sun, 6/29/2007, TEA Volunteer Program Keeps Park Looking Great
Beacon Hill Times, 1/30/07, TEA Wins Grant
Beacon Hill Times, 2/06/07, Todisco Heads Storrow Drive Landscape Advisory Committee
Boston Globe, 10/14/2006, TEA Moondance Auction a Success
CBS4 Highlights TEA Volunteer Efforts, 7/4/2006
Boston Globe Editorial, 1/4/2006, Seeking another route for Storrow
Newsletters: