Parks and Recreation
We create and maintain clean, green, safe, and accessible open space in more than 2,200 acres of park land throughout Boston.
The Parks and Recreation Department owns 293 properties containing around 2,200 acres of permanently protected open space including the Boston Common, the Public Garden, and the Olmsted-designed Emerald Necklace park system. The City’s parks contain walking trails, playgrounds, recreational courts, natural areas, historic burying grounds, and much more. We maintain 31 urban wilds, 4 high school athletic fields, and operate 2 public golf courses. In addition to the trees within our parks, we care for more than 45,000 public street trees.
Contact
-
1010 Massachusetts Avenue
3rd FloorBoston, MA 02118 -
Office hoursMonday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. -
Public hearings and meetings
We regularly hold tree removal and Parks and Recreation Commission hearings:
Spotlight
Sunflower Grant
The Sunflower Beautification Grant supports highly visible, sustainable, community-led projects that enhance public spaces through the planting of sunflowers and other beautification efforts.
Mayor's Cup Ice Hockey Tournament
Begins on December 5
Forever Young
FREE recreation programs for older adults
Winter Soccer Clinics
Running Sundays from January 11 to February 8, this free clinic supports athletes ages 9–17 in keeping their skills sharp and gearing up for spring soccer.
Fall Fitness
Join us for our series of free fitness classes in the parks!
Park Ranger Programs
Explore Boston's wildlife and history with our Park Rangers!
Places to visit
Places to visit
Emerald Necklace
The 1,100-acre chain of nine parks is linked by parkways and waterways.
Cemeteries / Historic Burying Grounds
We manage three active cemeteries and 16 burying grounds in Boston.
Urban Wilds
The Urban Wilds form an essential part of the City's open space system.
BOS:311 service requests
Service requests
Trees in the City
Trees in the CityThe urban forest is an important part of the City’s landscape.
You can have a street tree planted on the sidewalk in front of your home or business.
If you want to remove a healthy tree, we need to hold a public hearing.
Contact
-
1010 Massachusetts Avenue
3rd FloorBoston, MA 02118 -
Office hoursMonday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
-
Public hearings and meetings
We regularly hold tree removal and Parks and Recreation Commission hearings:
