The Franklin Park Coalition (FPC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to involving the community to work, play, & engage in Franklin Park, Boston’s largest green space. Designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in the late 1800s, Franklin Park serves as an urban oasis to the surrounding neighborhoods and the City of Boston.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Parks Commissioner Ryan Woods, and Environment Chief Reverend Mariama White-Hammond joined FPC in the park on December 13th for a lively, passionate press conference announcing the long-awaited release of the Franklin Park Action Plan. Linda, the Wellness Warrior opened with standing yoga moves and the Boston Rhythm Riders closed the event with a line dance. Michelle and Mariama knew all the steps!
We hope you’ll look at the plan and offer your input. There’s lots to digest, peruse the table of contents and pick the sections of most interest to you.
In response to the horrific attack on an older longtime park user and an increase in active drug use, FPC hosted a public meeting with officials responsible for management in the park and at the Shattuck. More than 200 people logged on. If you missed the conversation, you can listen to it here.
FPC will continue to work with police, Parks Dept staff, Shattuck leadership, and other agencies that can help make a difference and bring safety improvements to the park. We will report back via this website and our newsletter. Scroll down on this page to sign up if you do not already receive it.
We’re please to announce a new page dedicated as a one-stop-shop to report and track your concerns about Franklin Park. Go to www.franklinparkcoalition.org/311 to view open and closed comments and complaints from parks users. The page leverages the City of Boston’s 311 service to display requests relating to issues in the park. See litter that needs to be addressed? Fallen limb? Out of service water station? You can report these issues, and more, on your smartphone (Android; iPhone) or via the web. And track your report, and those of other park users, at www.franklinparkcoalition.org/311.
Bos: 311 is the best way to report all the issues you want to see address in the park. Download the app, then snap a photo on your phone, tag the location in the park, and write a short description.
The Franklin Park Coalition plays a big part in conservation and stewardship of the park. This work is carried out primarily through our volunteer programs. FPC volunteers come the local community, Northeastern University and other educational institutions, and businesses/corporations. We also have hosted AmeriCorps members, and organized a summer youth conservation team.
There are lots of opportunities to play in the park! The FPC organizes the annual Kite & Bike Festival, the Elma Lewis Playhouse concert series, and the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot. We also host the Winter Festival and a range of health & fitness activities throughout the summer. Stay up to date on upcoming events by checking out our calendar and joining our mailing list!
Although most people know the FPC because of our events and park stewardship, advocacy is really at the core of what we do. FPC advocacy has deep roots; the organization was founded in 1974 by community members concerned about mismanagement in the park. They made the park the urban oasis that it was meant to be. The fact that Franklin Park is such a beautiful, safe, and well-used space is due in no small part to the advocacy of the FPC and our membership.
© Franklin Park Coalition
