Looking for some fun & free activities during February school vacation week?

Join us on Thursday, February 20th from 11 a.m - 2 p.m on the Boston Common for our annual Children's Winter Festival! Hosted by Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Parks & Recreation Department in partnership with the Highland Street Foundation, this is the perfect afternoon activity for kids of all ages.

This year's festival will feature music, giveaways, various winter attractions, treats, crafts and much more! This event is FREE and open to all. 

For more information, please call the Boston Parks & Recreation Department at 617-635-4505 or visit Boston.gov/Parks

This year’s event celebrates the contributions of Coretta Scott King and Sue Bailey Thurman to the Greater Boston community. In addition, our event will include a celebration of the music of Aretha Franklin by the BU Bands and additional music by the Inner Strength Gospel Choir.

Mayor Walsh will be one of the event’s distinguished speakers, along with featured speaker, Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Superintendent of the Boston Public Schools.

Boston University strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Disability and Access Services at access@bu.edu.

Sponsored by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and the Friends of the Public Garden, the Open House is part of a comprehensive engagement process that has already included nearly 6,000 people participating in various ways: surveys, pop-ups, and an initial Open House in October 2019. 

As "America’s First Public Park" and an oasis in downtown Boston, Boston Common is one of the most treasured green spaces in the world. The goal of the Master Plan is to create a Common that will serve the people of Boston and visitors alike while protecting this special place for decades to come.

During this second open house, the attendees will have the opportunity to:

• Hear an overview of the Boston Common Master Plan project
• Receive an update on the work that has been accomplished
• Hear a summary of extensive public feedback to date 
• Hear a discussion about user needs and infrastructure needs
• Consider initial concepts for improving the Common
• Learn about next steps in the Master Plan process

The Open House format will include a slideshow presentation, question and answer period, and an opportunity for active participation within small breakout groups. The slideshow presentation will be made available on the Boston Common Master Plan project website. You’ll also find a link to the  user survey, which closes on December 31, 2019. We need your voice at  this important open house. Your continued participation is crucial in planning the brightest future for Boston Common.

Over the past several months, project proponents have been deeply engaged in a conversation about the future of Boston Common and the level of engagement has been significant:

• 4,340 people have completed the online user survey
• Nearly 1,200 people have engaged in constructive dialogue at 10 “Mini Common” pop-up events held in neighborhoods around the city 
• 140 people attended the first Open House on October 29, 2019 to generously share their observations, hopes and aspirations for this iconic park

The entrance for the meeting is located at the corner of Arlington Street and Marginal Road. The event is accessible via the Tufts Medical Center station on the MBTA Orange Line. Off-street parking is available on a first come, first served basis. 

Interpretation and translation services are available to you at no cost. If you are attending this event and need these services, please contact Laura Cawley at the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at Laura.Cawley@boston.gov or 617-961-3013.

For over a century, Franklin Park has been a lively and beloved center of recreation, gathering, and discovery for the Boston community. Now, with newly allocated park funds, the City of Boston is planning ahead for the park’s next century!

Over the next 18 months, the City of Boston is partnering with a team of landscape architects, planners, ecologists, and community engagement experts to create a master plan for an engaging and diverse Franklin Park. 

Our work will build on previous planning efforts and improvements by the City and its partners. We look forward to building on these successes and incorporating even more feedback. It’s your opportunity to help shape the future of the park and connections to the surrounding neighborhoods.

Come to our Community Workshop on January 28, between 6 - 8 p.m. at the William J. Devine Golf Course Clubhouse at Franklin Park. Can’t make it? Share your thoughts on the Master Plan website, or sign up for project updates!

*Snow date: January 30, 6 - 8 p.m.

Please join us for the first in a series of community meetings. We look forward to sharing the project scope and timeline, and hearing what you have to say!

Interpretation and translation services are available to you at no cost. If you are attending this event and need these services, please contact Laura Cawley at the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at laura.cawley@boston.gov or 617-961-3013.

(Photo credit: Ed Lyons)

Please join us in the historic Boston Public Library at Copley Square for a discussion on effective practices based on the 2019 Innovative Initiatives and special remarks by Mayor Martin J. Walsh. Breakfast will be served.

• 8 - 8:45 a.m. - Breakfast / Networking
• 8:45 - 10:15 a.m. - Program: 2019 Gender Pay Gap Data Presentation, Call to Action from Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Discussion of Effective Practices for 2020 with BWWC HR Advisory Board
• 10:15 - 10:30 a.m. - Closing and Networking

Questions? Want to learn more about the 100% Talent Compact? Email us at team@thebwwc.org!