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Eliot Memorial Revitalization
The Esplanade Association (TEA) in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is working to re-landscape, reprogram and revitalize the Boston Esplanade’s Charles Eliot Memorial, the area between Community Boating, Inc. (CBI) and Commissioner’s Landing, plus the triangular planting bed in front of CBI. Improvements to the landscape in this area will complement the newly constructed CBI docks and Founders Overlook once it is restored. This project will serve also as an Esplanade Landscape Demonstration area, which will provide DCR and TEA with vital information on the financial and operational requirements needed to fully restore the park’s landscape.
The Eliot Memorial is located in a highly visible and much used area of the Esplanade and contains many of the elements that make the Esplanade’s landscape so unique—a river border, a monument, a wooded area and the newly accessible Founder’s Overlook.
The revitalized Eliot Memorial will provide better views of the lively Community Boating Dock and of the Boston skyline across the Boat Haven. The provision of comfortable seating and visitor services will further enhance the visitor experience in this area. The Charles Eliot monument, along with additional interpretive materials, will educate visitors about the 19th century founder of the metropolitan park system as well as the vast metropolitan park system he helped to establish.
A primary goal of the Charles Eliot Memorial Revitalization is to revitalize the landscape in a manner that is fully sustainable. To do this, the landscape will be evaluated, restored and re-landscaped. This will involve restoring soil quality, improving existing plant health, removing inappropriate plant material and adding new trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. An irrigation system to sustain the plant materials is part of this program. The landscape design of the Eliot Memorial will utilize a rich horticultural palette in keeping with the intentions of Arthur Shurcliff and Guy Lowell, the Esplanade's original designers. Increased site management and long term horticultural maintenance is another core goal of this project. TEA and DCR are working to establish a sustainable model for landscape maintenance in this area. Upon successful completion, the landscape restoration model for the Charles Eliot Memorial Revitalization could be replicated elsewhere on the Esplanade.
Project News
TEA & DCR have selected Halvorson Design Partnership as the lead consultant to move this project forward. Representatives from the Beacon Hill Garden Club, Boston Preservation Alliance, Community Boating, Inc. and the Union Boat Club have served as advisors on the project.
Public meetings were held on October 6th & November 15th, 2011. Click here to view the November presentation and follow-up letter.
Join this Effort
For more information about the Eliot Memorial Revitalization and how to get involved, contact Jessica Pederson, Project Manager, at 617-227-0365 x104 or jpederson@esplanadeassociation.org.
Help the revitalization by clicking here. For more information about how to support this project, contact Megan Sampson, Development Manager, at 617-227-0365 x103 or msampson@esplanadeassociation.org.
Photos/Illustrations - Header ©2011 Halvorsen Design Partnership
The Esplanade Association
376 Boylston Street, Suite 503
Boston, MA 02116
617.227.0365