Additional Resources
People’s Guide to the Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act
The public's rights and ways to get involved in protecting waterfront spaces.
Explore the guideResilient Boston Harbor Vision
The City of Boston’s climate-ready waterfront vision and projects map.
Explore the planPublic Restrooms in the City of Boston
Interactive map and directory of City facilities by neighborhood.
Explore the mapCoastal Zone Management Coast Guide
Interactive map with 1,800 beaches, boat ramps, and other public access sites statewide.
Explore the mapGuide to the Working Port
Takeaways from Boston Harbor Now’s symposium on the 21st-century working port.
Explore the guideAll Projects
The Blueway
The New England Aquarium’s Blueway vision reimagines the public’s waterfront experience in downtown Boston. A public promenade would radically open sightlines from the Greenway to the water’s edge at the far end of Central Wharf. The three-acre concept includes floating walkways, marine gardens, seating and gathering areas, and tidal zones where visitors can explore the Boston Harbor habitat and marine species.
Image: CBT Architects
Climate Ready South Boston
This project is identifying solutions to protect South Boston, Fort Point, and the rest of the city from the impacts of climate change. It is one of several district-level efforts under Climate Ready Boston (along with projects in East Boston and Charlestown, to date). In community meetings, people have expressed eagerness for early action and strong preferences for “green infrastructure,” such as living shorelines and park spaces that provide public amenities while protecting the city.
Dry Dock #4
A decommissioned ship repair site could be Boston’s most exciting new park, offering families a new reason to come to the waterfront. As imagined by The Trustees, the 5.5-acre space would be a model of climate-resilient design and a living laboratory for young people to explore the Boston Harbor’s ecology and economy, programmed in partnership with communities across the city.
Rendering by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. Concept does not represent a finished design.
East Eagle Street Electric Substation
East Boston residents are advocating for new recreational space on the Chelsea Creek, instead of a proposed high-voltage electric substation. The substation would be dangerously close to the water and prone to flooding, next to the American Legion Playground—one of the most popular parks and sports fields in the neighborhood—and near jet fuel storage. It would pose major threats to public safety, health, and local economic interests. A new recreational space would align with the vision for a publicly accessible and resilient coastal zone.
Harborwalk
This 40-mile public walkway winds through seven Boston waterfront neighborhoods, stretching from the Chelsea Creek in East Boston to the Neponset River in Dorchester. Property owners are responsible for creating and maintaining the walkway and other public amenities in accordance with state-issued licenses. A new digital, interactive map from Boston Harbor Now offers a database of public benefits along the Harborwalk—including park space, seating areas, restrooms, fishing docks, and more.
Photo by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
Moakley Park Vision Plan
Boston Parks and Recreation Department is planning for a vibrant and resilient future for the 60-acre Moakley Park. A community engagement process aims to create a plan for enhanced recreational and cultural uses, safety, connectivity to surrounding areas, and protection from coastal and storm water flooding.
Image: Stoss Landscape Urbanism
North Charlestown / Lower Mystic Visioning
A public engagement effort aims to create a shared vision for new and enhanced waterfront connections, parks and open spaces, and walking and biking routes in North Charlestown. Led by the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) Greenways Program, the effort aims to connect people to the water’s edge from Sullivan Square to the Tobin Bridge, while also protecting the surrounding neighborhoods from coastal and inland flooding.
Rendering by Kleinfelder-Stoss-One Architecture. Concept does not represent a finished design.
Piers Park 3
East Boston could be home to an iconic new park by The Trustees that seamlessly integrates into the Piers Park complex, honors its unique location on the Boston Harbor, and serves the East Boston community’s expressed needs. Exposed piers, rocky shoreline, and salt marsh would complement open, flexible spaces for active play and community programming—from movie screenings to gardening classes. The park would provide natural protection against sea-level rise and flooding.
Rendering by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. Concept does not represent a finished design.
Water Transportation
By taking advantage of its Harbor for public transportation, Boston could address mobility challenges while also supporting economic development in the region, enhancing quality of life for residents, and preparing for climate change. Boston Harbor Now is partnering with MassDOT and others to explore ways to scale our commuter and recreational water transportation system and link it to land-based transit options.
Photo: Galya Feierman