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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.

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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.

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Parks Permitting
Playgrounds And Parks In Boston
Planning and Research
Design and Construction
Work With Us
Park Sports and Activities
Programs, Activities, And Events
Dogs And Boston Parks
Parks And Recreation Commission

Spotlight

Putting for Parks

Join us for the Second Annual Putting for Parks Golf Tournament!

Fall Watercolor Workshops

Join one of our watercolor painting workshops!

Fall Fitness

Join us for our series of free fitness classes in the parks!

Forever Young

FREE recreation programs for older adults

Boston Blooms

Daffodil planting program

Fall-o-Ween Children's Festival

Fifth annual Fall-o-Ween Children’s Festival

Parks Sports and Activities

FREE athletic programs for all ages in parks Citywide.

Upcoming events

Events
Codman Square Park Ribbon Cutting
On Sep 19

Sep 19
Codman Square Park Ribbon Cutting
On Sep 19

Sep 19
Watercolor Painting Workshop #3: Boston Public Garden
On Sep 20

Sep 20
Watercolor Painting Workshop #4: Chandler Pond
On Sep 21

Sep 21
Walking Tour of Franklin Park
On Sep 25

Sep 25
Downtown Movie Night: Wicked
On Sep 26

Sep 26
More City events

Places to visit

Places to visit
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Emerald Necklace

The 1,100-acre chain of nine parks is linked by parkways and waterways.

Visit the Emerald Necklace
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Cemeteries / Historic Burying Grounds

We manage three active cemeteries and 16 burying grounds in Boston.

Learn more about cemeteries
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Urban Wilds

The Urban Wilds form an essential part of the City's open space system.

Learn about Urban Wilds

BOS:311 service requests

Service requests
Cemetery maintenance Damaged fountain Damaged play equipment Park maintenance Report a lighting issue Request a new tree Tree maintenance

Latest news

News

Dorchester Burying Ground graves for conservation

Boston Parks and Recreation Department Receives Federal Grant for Gravestone Conservation at Dorchester North Burying Ground​

Parks and Recreation

cut the ribbon on improvements to Chandler Pond in Brighton

Mayor Wu and Boston Parks and Recreation Department Celebrate Improvements to Chandler Pond

Parks and Recreation

Boston Parks Department’s Forever Young Program for Older Adults Returns for Fall Season

Parks and Recreation

1st place Peter Cahn & Donald Hess - Back Bay

2025 Mayor’s Garden Contest Winners

Parks and Recreation
More Parks news

Trees in the City

Trees in the City
Caring for Boston's urban forest

The urban forest is an important part of the City’s landscape.
How to get a tree planted on City land

You can have a street tree planted on the sidewalk in front of your home or business.
How to request a tree removal

If you want to remove a healthy tree, we need to hold a public hearing.

About Our Work

Find resources and learn more about our work at Parks and Recreation.

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