Last updated: 3/29/23

Resilient Boston Harbor

Learn about our climate-ready vision to enhance Boston’s waterfront. We want to protect Boston's neighborhoods from sea level rise and flooding due to climate change.

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Climate change is real for Bostonians. We’ve all seen hotter summers and flooding during winter storms, nor'easters, and King Tides. The City is paying attention to the science. We’re also preparing for the impacts of climate change.

The maps and images below lay out our comprehensive vision of coastal resilience. It’s an opportunity to invest in our neighborhoods, waterfront, and open spaces.

Have questions? Contact:

Environment
617-635-3850
Climate Ready Boston

Learn more about the City's efforts to prepare for climate change, including rising sea levels, extreme heat, and extreme weather events.

Climate Ready Boston

Resilient Boston Harbor

We can protect our coastal community by creating resilient, accessible open spaces, and prepared buildings and infrastructure.

Understanding the vision

Boston Harbor Vision

We need to create resilient, accessible open spaces and prepared buildings and infrastructure.

100-year storm event

A map of Boston Harbor in 2070 with 40 inches of sea level rise during a 100-year storm event.

Legend

View a legend to better understand our maps and images.

Resilient Boston Harbor concept

By keeping resilience and accessibility in mind, we can create a new Boston waterfront.

East Boston vision

Redesigned waterfront parks create flood protection and improve access and recreation. Restored marshes at Belle Isle prevent these natural resources from being lost. They also buffer our shoreline from waves and storm surge. New resilient developments add public access to open space and transit corridors include flood protection through elevation.

Climate Ready East Boston

East Boston

East Boston vision

We need to create resilient, accessible open spaces and prepared buildings and infrastructure.

100-year storm event

A map of East Boston in 2070 with 40 inches of sea level rise during a 100-year storm event.

Constitution Beach

A renovated and resilient Constitution Beach blocks a flood pathway while improving open space and recreation.

Neighborhood initiatives

Ongoing and planned City and partner initiatives to put our vision in place.

Downtown and North End vision

We have new designs for:

Christopher Columbus Park
Langone/ Puopolo Park, and
Sargent’s Wharf

These designs create vibrant and resilient waterfront parks that are gateways to Boston Harbor. They also connect to the Greenway and protect the neighborhood from flooding.

Downtown and North End

Downtown and North End vision

We need to create resilient, accessible open spaces and prepared buildings and infrastructure.

100-year storm event

A map of downtown Boston in 2070 with 40 inches of sea level rise during a 100-year storm event.

Long Wharf and the Aquarium

We have a new design for Christopher Columbus Park. We’re also planning for enhanced water transportation at Long Wharf.

Neighborhood initiatives

Ongoing and planned City and partner initiatives to put our vision in place.

South Boston vision

We’re designing a resilient, protective Moakley Park and re-envisioned Fort Point Channel. These areas work together to block major flood pathways.

Climate Ready South Boston

South Boston

South Boston vision

We need to create resilient, accessible open spaces and prepared buildings and infrastructure.

100-year storm event

A map of South Boston in 2070 with 40 inches of sea level rise during a 100-year storm event.

Neighborhood initiatives

Ongoing and planned City and partner initiatives to put our vision in place.

Moakley Park Vision Plan

A comprehensive vision plan for the park addressing coastal and storm water flooding.

Dorchester vision

We envision a resilient, accessible, and connected shoreline in Dorchester. We want to expand beaches and create better access to the waterfront.

Dorchester

Dorchester vision

We need to create resilient, accessible open spaces and prepared buildings and infrastructure.

100-year storm event

A map of Dorchester in 2070 with 40 inches of sea level rise during a 100-year storm event.

Dorchester shoreway

We need to expand beaches and tidal marsh at Tenean Beach and Victory Beach. We'll increase open waterfront space and reduce flooding.

Neighborhood initiatives

Ongoing and planned City and partner initiatives to put our vision in place.

Harbor Projects Map

Ongoing and planned projects that make our City more resilient to climate change.

Show Map

Resilience toolkit

Adapted infrastructure

We need elevated roadways, strengthened seawalls, and flood barriers. We must protect public rights-of-way and the communities and businesses behind them.

Protective waterfront parks

Waterfronts include living shorelines, beaches, elevated parks, and access to water transportation. We improve our waterfront while blocking flood pathways.

Elevated harborwalks

By improving elevation and access, we can use our harborwalk system as way to protect against floods.

Latest news

Oct 17

Transformative plan to create resilient, open Boston Harbor unveiled

"Resilient Boston Harbor" lays out strategies along Boston's 47-mile shoreline that will increase access and open space along the waterfront while better protecting the City.