RODALE NEWS, BOSTON, MA—After enduring the Big Dig, a massive construction project in Boston that involved carving out underground tunnels to redirect traffic from ugly, towering metal overpasses that blemished the heart of downtown Boston, people are finally able to hit major points of the city on foot by using the beautiful Boston Greenway.
In less than a week, the Greenway will be celebrating its official one-year anniversary. Rodale.com was already in town for Natural Products Expo East, so we decided to check out the new park system firsthand. And it did not disappoint.
THE DETAILS: The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy is the driving force behind the 15 acres of new public parkland. Officially opened in October 2008, the system is broken up into four parks that now make it easy to travel through some of Boston's most desirable spots by foot. The park sections include The North End, Wharf District, Dewey Square, and Chinatown Parks. Some of the interesting stops near the Boston Greenway include Boston Children’s Museum, Boston Harbor Islands National Park, Boston Harbor Walk, the New England Aquarium, and The Freedom Trail.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Boston Greenway is a magnificent display of urban renewal, and a testament to how green, walkable spaces can transform an urban environment—although it did take decades for the Big Dig to be completed. If you visit this urban gem, check out the section of the Greenway where cars enter the tunnel to head underground. It's so beautiful now, it's hard to believe they once revved on a massive overpass where the Greenway now sits.
Here's what you need to know when visiting the Boston Greenway.
• Get there green. Public transportation is the greenest way to get to the Boston Greenway. If you're already in the city, take "the T". (This is how they refer to the MBTA, public transportation in Boston.) You can try the following options: Commuter Rail South, Commuter Rail North, Commuter Boat, Subway, Bus Rapid Transit, known as the Silver Line. Depending on where you live, you might also take Amtrak into South Station, which is right across the street from the Dewey Square section of the Greenway.
• Walk it out. To experience the entire Greenway on foot without retracing your steps, start at either Chinatown Park (in the south) or at the North End Park and travel the one-mile distance. Along the way, you'll be able to check out architecture like the Boston Harbor Hotel, which was previously blocked by a metal overpass. When it's warmer out, you'll also notice a steady hum of beneficial pollinators buzzing around native plants.
• Hit up the market. The Boston Public Market at Dewey Square across from South Station is open Tuesdays and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and runs through October. The market offers a seasonal spread of fruits, veggies, honey, eggs, meat, cheeses, breads, herbs, and plants. (Our parent company, Rodale Inc., is proud to be a part of the Greenway project as sponsor of the Boston Public Market.)
• Recharge in the marketplace. If you're hungry but want to grab an affordable meal on the go, visit the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, also known as Quincy Market, and plop down on the marketplace steps for a quick lunch. Tasty options range from hummus platters to seafood soup!