The Committee's overall mission is to help ensure the sustainability of the North End/Waterfront as a residential neighborhood by promoting and protecting parks and open spaces that meet the neighborhood's needs and are accessible, well-maintained and safe.
Copyright © 2009 North End/Waterfront Residents' Association, All rights reserved.
Parks & Open Spaces Committee
Upcoming Meetings
The next Parks & Open Spaces Committee meeting:
March 31, 2010, 7pm
Nazzaro Center
30 N. Bennet St.
Latest Updates on the Parks & Open Spaces Committee
Parks and Open Spaces Committee
Meeting Agenda
Monday, March 1, 2010
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Nazzaro Center, 30 North Bennet Street
Committee Chair: Anne M. Pistorio
Updates
7:00 PM – 7:10 PM
•
Discussion with Friends of Christopher Columbus Park on February 9, 2010
Discussion with Friends of Christopher Columbus Park on February 9, 2010•Greenway Conservancy & Leadership Council Joint Meeting on Feb. 2, 2010
Greenway Conservancy & Leadership Council Joint Meeting on Feb. 2, 2010•Other news
Other newsParks and Open Spaces Survey
7:10 PM – 7:30 PM
•Review and discussion of the survey responses received to-date
Review and discussion of the survey responses received to-date•Suggestions for improving the survey – how will the information be used?
Suggestions for improving the survey – how will the information be used?•Suggestions for improving distribution/access and managing the information
Suggestions for improving distribution/access and managing the information Research, Inventory and Mapping
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM
•Update on ongoing research – volunteers needed
Update on ongoing research – volunteers needed•What types of information should be recorded about our neighborhood
What types of information should be recorded about our neighborhood spaces?
•Field surveys
Field surveys•Consideration of a computerized system for inventory and mapping
Consideration of a computerized system for inventory and mapping•Development of a neighborhood parks and open spaces map.
Development of a neighborhood parks and open spaces map.Community Action
8:00 PM – 8:20 PM
•Approaching Boston Parks and Recreation Department
Approaching Boston Parks and Recreation Department•Approaching MA Department of Conservation and Recreation
Approaching MA Department of Conservation and Recreation•Community volunteer programs – getting the North End/Waterfront
Community volunteer programs – getting the North End/Waterfront community involved
Open Discussion/Ideas
8:20 PM – 8:30 PM
The Parks and Open Spaces Committee can be contacted at parks@newra.org.
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Parks & Open Spaces Committee
Parks Co-Chairs
What We Are Doing
The committee's coverage area is in downtown Boston bounded by Surface Road, Blackstone Street, up to 20 Rowes Wharf no further than Keaney Square and North Washington Street, and bound by the water.
We would like the committee to be the "eyes and ears" of the parks.
The committee is making an inventory of parks in the neighborhood. The North End has 15.6 acres of protected open spaces, 4.2 acres of unprotected public open spaces for a total of 20.2 acres of parks and open spaces. This includes the Greenway and ranks in the middle of other central Boston neighborhoods.
Some interesting notes:
■ Copps Hill Cemetery is 351 years old
■ Prior to 1885, there was no open space in the North End
■ The first playground in the United States was on Parmenter St. in back of what is the North End Union. It was called the Sand Garden.
Some initial goals for the Committee:
■ Create a map flyer highlighting the neighborhood's parks and open spaces
■ Recognize the old North End Beach and Ball fields, perhaps with a sign to recognize the North End Beach Park, 1892 by the Firm of Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot
■ Copps Hill - parts of the fence has been ripped off over the years. The Committee would like to pursue a grant to fix it.
■ Bring attention to areas in desperate need of attention, particularly "The Gassy' (DiFilipo Park).
The Parks and Open Spaces Committee can be contacted at parks@newra.org.
Park Permit Questionaire - If you have applied for parks permits before, either for athletic fields or special events, or if you have ideas about park permitting, please fill out this brief survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T5LHSQJ If you have more comments about permitting than the survey can capture, feel free to send an email to me or to Lauri Webster (lauri@bostonparks.org).
Also, remember that there will be a meeting on park permitting a week from Tuesday (February 23) from 6 to 8pm. For details and to RSVP, click here.
Nina Mukherji, Boston Park Advocates
