Boston Parks Department

Meeting tonight! ⬇️

Join us for an open house to learn about the Urban Wilds Program and help shape the future of Boston’s natural areas. 📅Tuesday, November 10 @ 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. 📍William Devine Golf Course Clubhouse, 1 Circuit Drive www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/urban-wilds-strategic-plan

Discover some of Boston's history this spooky season with the Boston Park Rangers. 🪦⚰️☠️ This featured burying ground tour is in the oldest public park in America: The Boston Common. Learn facts like this and more on Boston's days of yore, Tuesday, October 27th. #SpookySeason #BostonParkRangers

🌳Help shape the future of the Boston Common! Join us for a virtual community meeting to discuss improvements to the Boston Common Mayor’s Walk pathway and the Parkman Bandstand. 📅Tuesday, October 27 @ 6:00 p.m. Learn more at boston.gov/mayors-walk and boston.gov/parkman-bandstand

Looking for something spooky this fall season? The Boston Park Rangers are giving tours on a series of historic burying grounds in the city. Learn about some of Boston's finest in the days of yore. #BostonHistory #HistoricTours #HistoricBoston #BostonParks #FallInBoston ☠️🪦⚰️

Today’s the day! Join us on the Boston Common Parade Ground for the annual Fall-O-Ween Festival! 🎃Thursday, October 22 🌙 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Boston Common Parade Ground, Beacon and Charles Street 👻Visit boston.gov/falloween

Want to learn about creatures that bump in the night? The Boston Park Rangers will be having an open house at their Nature Center at Jamaica Pond; find out about owls, bats, and other nighttime critters you might find in Boston's Parks!🦉🦇🏞️ #NighttimeCreatures #WildlifeEducation

In part two of our Parks Care Series, Commissioner Diana Fernandez Bibeau catches up with Kevin, a member of our parks maintenance team, to go behind the scenes and show what it takes to keep our parks in tip-top shape.

Ever wonder what lurks in Mattahunt Woods? 👻 Come discover it with us this weekend. 📅 October 17, 2026 @ 10:00 a.m. 🍂Mattahunt Woods Urban Wilds, 206 Colorado Street Learn more at boston.gov/calendar/mattahaunt-woods-discovery-day

Join us this weekend for a Pollinator Planting at Moakley Park 🐝🌱 📅 October 17, 2026 @ 9:30 a.m. 🌳 Meet near the basketball courts at Moakley Park, South Boston Learn more at moakleypark.org/calendar

🚨Due to forecasted rain, we’re rescheduling our Fall-O-Ween Festival to Thursday, October 22 on the Boston Common! 🎃Thursday, October 22 (NEW DATE!) 🌙 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Boston Common Parade Ground, Beacon and Charles Street 🪦 Visit boston.gov/falloween or the link in our bio to learn more!

Hey Mission Hill👋 Improvements are coming to McLaughlin Playground and we’re looking for feedback on the design, including play features and whether the improvements should include a dog park. 🛝🐶 Share your thoughts by taking our survey by Friday, October 30 at boston.gov/mclaughlin.

The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive, sap-feeding insect that has recently been recorded in several Boston parks. While they might catch your eye, spotted lanternflies can harm our local trees and shrubs, and it’s important to know what to look out for. boston.gov/lanternfly

We’re wrapping up our 2026 Garden Contest by congratulating our Pollinator Garden winners! 🌸 🐝 🥇 Franco Campanello – South End 🥈 Kimba McDonald – Hyde Park 🥉 Stephanie Fletcher – Beacon Hill Photos courtesy of the garden contest entrants. See more at boston.gov/garden-contest.

🍂⛵Join us next Thursday for a virtual community meeting to discuss the Jamaica Pond Boathouse and Bandstand. The design team will present the final recommendations for a future renovation project. 📅 October 15, 2026 @ 6:00 p.m. For more information visit boston.gov/jamaica-pond-boathouse

We’re working with Boston Planning Department to bring improvements to Christopher Columbus Park and Long Wharf and we want to hear from you! Learn more and take the survey before October 17 at boston.gov/columbus-long-wharf.

Ready, set, go! 👟Registration is open for the Mayor's Cup Cross Country races taking place on Sunday October 25, 2026 at Franklin Park. 🏆boston.gov/parks-sports

Congratulation to our Storefront, Organization & Main Street District winners! 🥇 The Boston Home – Dorchester 🥈 Recreo Coffee & Roasterie – West Roxbury 🥉 Beacon Hill Garden Club – Beacon Hill Photos courtesy of garden contest entrants. See more at boston.gov/garden-contest.

Fall-O-Ween is just around the corner! 🎃Friday, October 16 🌙 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Boston Common Parade Ground, Beacon and Charles Street 🪦 Visit boston.gov/falloween or the link in our bio to learn more!

Congratulations to our Community Garden winners! 💐 🥇 Jenny Li & Mark Springel – Berkeley Community Gardens 🥈 Joe & Dolores Fazio – Fenway Victory Gardens 🥉 Lillian Dukes – Fenway Victory Gardens 📸 Photos courtesy of the garden contest entrants. See more at boston.gov/garden-contest.

It's veggie thyme... 🍅🌿🍆🥕 Congratulations to our Vegetable & Herb Garden Contest winners! 🥇 Suzen Holohan - East Boston 🥈 Toya Walker - Mattapan 🥉 Jayde Lantz - Roslindale 📸Photos courtesy of the garden contest entrants. See more at boston.gov/garden-contest.

Meet our Age Strong Garden Contest winners! 🌿🌼 🥇 Richard Macmillan & Alex McCray – Jamaica Plain 🥈 Arlene Simon – Dorchester 🥉 Daniel Satinsky – Jamaica Plain A special thanks to the Boston Age Strong Commission! Photos by the garden contest entrants. See more at boston.gov/garden-contest.

Introducing the new Parks and Recreation leadership team! Deputy Commissioners: 🌱 Planning, Ecology & Stewardship: Azzurra Cox 🏛️ Policy and Administration: Breeze Outlaw ✨ Engagement and Strategic Partnerships: Lindsey Santana Executive Directors: 🏙️ External Affairs & Partnerships: Nakia Hill

We’re celebrating our 2026 Shade Garden Contest winners! 🥇 Ellen Scalese - Hyde Park 🥈 Sharon Gentges - East Boston 🥉 Peter Gelhaar - Back Bay 📸 Photos courtesy of the garden contest entrants. See more at boston.gov/garden-contest

Join us next week for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Steven P. Odom Serenity Garden in #Dorchester 📅 Saturday, October 3, 10:30 AM 📍 Steven P. Odom Serenity Garden, 23 Hopkins St. 🔗 boston.gov/odom-serenity-garden Celebrate the updated community space to honor the late Steven P. Odom. 🦋

Our Boston Blooms Daffodil bulb program is back! 🌼We’re giving away more than 15,000 daffodil bulbs this fall so they can be planted now and bring color to our neighborhoods when spring arrives. Supplies are limited so register NOW at boston.gov/boston-blooms

Registration is officially FULL for our Putting for Parks Golf Tournament! We can’t wait to see you on the course on Oct 19. While registration may be closed, there are still opportunities to get involved as a hole sponsor or supporter of the event. Visit boston.gov/putting-parks to learn more.

Registration is now open for the Mayor’s Cup Soccer Tournament taking place during the weekends of Oct 24-25 and Nov 7-8! ⚽ Gather your squad and sign up a team today: boston.gov/parks-sports

Save the date! 🎃Join us on Fri, Oct 16 at our spooktacular Fall-O-Ween Children’s Festival for FREE fall & Halloween-themed activities, treats & more! 👻Fri, Oct 16 🌙 4-8 p.m. Boston Common Parade Ground, Beacon & Charles Street 🪦 Visit boston.gov/falloween or the link in our bio to learn more!

🎯Our Forever Young Drop-In Program returns this Wednesday at Langone Park in the North End. Offering bocce and archery to adults ages 55+, this program will be packed with fun! 🗓️ Wednesdays Sept 23 - Nov 4, 2026 ⏰11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 📍 Langone Park Learn more at boston.gov/forever-young.

Join us and Boston Planning Department on Tuesday, September 29 for TWO community meetings to discuss Christopher Columbus Park & Long Wharf: 12:30 p.m. | Christopher Columbus Park @ the Harborwalk 6:00 p.m. | The Civic Pavilion @ City Hall Plaza Register at boston.gov/columbus-long-wharf.

🎨🌿This weekend, artists took in the flora and fauna of Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild to inspire their unique watercolor creations as part of our ParkARTS Watercolor Workshop Series. Photo by eatlaterphotofirst on IG 🖼️ boston.gov/watercolor-workshops

Walk the waterways with the Boston Park Rangers! 🥾🌳Join us on Sunday for a guided tour of the Emerald Necklace waterways from the Back Bay Fens to Jamaica Pond. This walking tour is free and will take 3-4 hrs, please dress accordingly and wear comfortable shoes. boston.gov/park-rangers

Join us this Saturday 9/19 to celebrate a groundbreaking at West of Washington Family Park, Dorchester’s newest City park. Learn more at boston.gov/wow-park

Celebrate our Porch, Balcony, or Container Category winners for this year's Garden Contest! 🥇 Peter Cahn & Donald Hess - Back Bay 🥈 Paul H. Belanger - West End 🥉 Doug Gifford - South End Photos provided by garden contest entrants. See more at boston.gov/garden-contest or at the link in our bio!

Hey East Boston! Join us next week for a community meeting on Tuesday, September 22 about site analysis and next steps for Putnam Square. 📅 Tuesday, September 22, 2026 @ 6:00 p.m. To register or view more information visit boston.gov/putnam-square.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month, Boston! We’re proud to celebrate our Commissioner, Diana Fernandez Bibeau, who has been named to ALX100 list of 100 leaders across Massachusetts championing Latino American prosperity. Read the full list in the The Boston Globe and at ALX100.com

Celebrate our Large Yard Category winners for this year's Garden Contest! 🥇 Shoma Haque - Jamaica Plain 🥈 Molly Duggan - Mattapan 🥉 Greg Tyo & Jorge Serrao - Dorchester Photos provided by garden contest entrants. See more at boston.gov/garden-contest!

Hey Mission Hill! Join us this week for a community meeting on Thursday, September 17 about site analysis and next steps for McLaughlin Playground. 📅 Thursday, September 17, 2026 @ 6:00 p.m. To register or view more information visit boston.gov/mclaughlin.

The Parks Fall Fitness Series is back! 🍂Join us and Boston Public Health Commission in the parks for FREE fitness classes everyday this fall. Enjoy a variety of healthy activities from Walking Group to Yoga, Dance Hall Bootcamp, and more. 🧘‍♀️ boston.gov/fitness

Sunday, September 13: Highland Park Watercolor Workshop is cancelled due to inclement weather. For more information about our watercolor workshops, check out boston.gov/watercolor-workshops

Celebrate our Medium Yard Category winners for this year's Garden Contest! 🥇 Ernesto Falcon & Rui Almeida - Roslindale 🥈 Annie McHugh - Jamaica Plain 🥉 Tom Bessette & Ike Colbert - Dorchester Photos provided by garden contest entrants. See more at boston.gov/garden-contest!

Tee up for a good cause! ⛳ There’s still time to register for our 3rd Annual Putting for Parks Golf Tournament at George Wright Golf Course on Monday, October 19. 🏆 Spots are limited. Register TODAY as an individual or foursome at boston.gov/putting-parks

We want your feedback! The Boston Common Mayor’s Walk is a heavily used pathway that cuts through Common from Charles Street to the Park Street T Stop. Take the pulse check survey now at boston.gov/mayors-walk

Congratulations to the Small Yard Category winners for this year's Garden Contest! 🥇 Beverly Christians and David Delacroix - South End 🥈 Tara Kuglen - South Boston 🥉 Katherine Bielec-Steveson - Roslindale Photos provided by garden contest entrants. See more at boston.gov/garden-contest!

🐴 Ever wondered what it’s like to be a Boston Park Ranger? Saddle up for an insider look! 📅 Thursday, September 3, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. 📍 Parks Maintenance Yard, 275 Canterbury Street 🔗boston.gov/park-rangers

📽️ Movie Night 🎞️ Boston Common 📽️ Boston.gov/MovieNights

LOCATION CHANGE🫧We simply couldn’t be happier to share that we'll be screening Wicked: For Good THIS Saturday on the Boston Common! 🎬 Free screening of Wicked: For Good 📅 Saturday, August 29 | Movie at dusk (around 8:00 p.m.) 📍 Boston Common (near the Brewer Fountain) boston.gov/movie-nights

📽️ Movie Night continues. 🎞️ Moakley Park, South Boston 📽️ Boston.gov/MovieNights

Join us for a summer night of great tunes & golden hour views at the William Devine Golf Course Patio featuring Rey Royale! 🗓 Wed, Aug 26th 🕕 6:00 PM Kick back, relax, and soak in the sunset with music, friends & the perfect patio vibe. For more information visit: boston.gov/golf-concert-series