Parks
Historic Greenspaces
In Centre/South we are fortunate to be able to enjoy the amenities
of city life and the natural beauty of three historic parks,
Jamaica Pond, the Arnold Arboretum, and Forest Hills Cemetery.
Jamaica Pond
Covering 70 acres, Jamaica Pond is the largest body of water close
to Boston. In the early years the pond was a major source of
water and for many years after that was used for ice harvesting.
The City of Boston purchased the pond area in the late 1800s so
it could become part of the great Emerald Necklace, a carefully
designed series of connected parks and greenspaces that wind through
the Boston area. The Emerald Necklace was the inspiration of Frederick
Law Olmsted, the founder of landscape architecture in America.
Since then, Jamaica Pond has been enjoyed by
generations of Bostonians. People flock to the pond during every
season to enjoy the walking
trail. In the summer, the pond offers sailing and is stocked with
a variety of fish to the delight of local fishing enthusiasts.
(A fishing permit is required.) Community sailboats and rowboats
are available for rental and lessons.
The Arnold Arboretum
The earliest origins of the Arnold Arboretum can be traced to 1835
when Benjamin Bussey left the land and funds to Harvard College
for the creation of a school of horticulture and agriculture.
The Arboretum was later named the Arnold Arboretum after James
Arnold of New Bedford, who left Harvard additional monies for
the school’s support.
Another jewel in Boston’s Emerald Necklace,
the Arboretum covers 265 acres in Jamaica Plain and houses over
7,000 species of trees and plants. Bostonians enjoy the Arboretum
in every season; the park’s “Lilac Sunday” held
on the second Sunday in May is a particular favorite, celebrating
the Arboretum’s spectacular lilac collection and the beginning
of spring.
Forest Hills Cemetery
Part resting-place, part sculpture gallery, and part park, Forest
Hills Cemetery contains one of the largest collections of Victorian
memorial sculpture in the nation. The cemetery was established
in the mid-1800s, and by the late Victorian era its pastoral
setting and extraordinary sculpture drew large numbers of visitors
In addition to six statues by the great
American sculptor Daniel Chester French, Forest Hills is home
to 2,000 trees and shrubs
and 20,000 flowers. Notable persons buried there include poets
Anne Sexton and e.e. cummings, as well as playwright Eugene O’Neil.
Many JP residents walk along the paths of Forest Hills, and the
Forest Hills Educational Trust offers a series of educational programs.
Smaller Greenspaces
A number of smaller greenspaces within the Centre/South
area provide places for children to play, adults to relax, and
dogs to run.
The Agassiz Arborleda – a small orchard and park between
South and Child streets – has recently been revitalized through
a joint project between JPCS and the nearby Agassiz School.
For more information please visit:
The Arnold Arboretum, www.arboretum.harvard.edu
Emerald Necklace Conservancy, www.emeraldnecklace.org
City of Boston Parks Department, www.cityofBoston.gov/parks
Frederick Law Olmsted, www.FrederickLawOlmsted.com
Forest Hills Cemetery Educational Trust, www.foresthillstrust.org
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