A Greener Greater Boston
2021 Year in Review
In Partnership with the Barr Foundation
In 2021, we continued to find respite and joy in visiting the Commonwealth's parks and greenways.
More than ever, we appreciated outdoor places to gather, rest, and visit with friends, family, and neighbors. It’s been amazing to see growing interest and support for designing and funding new trails from the grassroots to the White House. We are optimistic about the acceleration of trail construction as the federal government has increased dollars for critical infrastructure.
As we head into 2022, we must continue to build the pipeline of shovel ready projects so communities across the Commonwealth are ready to hit the ground running using recovery dollars and new infrastructure dollars at the state and federal level to build out a connected and accessible trail network.
We Believe
Everyone in the Commonwealth should have safe and easy access to an interconnected system of well-loved and well-cared for parks and greenways that enhance the health and well-being of people and the environment.
In 2021, we partnered with:
In 2021, we invested:
dollars
in design and feasibility studies
dollars
in quick builds and activations
dollars
in capacity support to organizations that provide leadership creating greenways
hours
in early stage planning, design, and project work
Support for Women and BIPOC-led organizations in 2021 Included:
In 2021, with broad support from many partners these grants leveraged $22 MILLION in federal, state, and municipal funds.
2021 Highlights
Read About a Few of our 2021 Highlights
Projects Recently or Soon to be Constructed
- On road portion of the Northern Strand in Lynn
- DCR and the City of Somerville have begun construction of the Blessing of the Bay Paths.
- DCR has included construction of the Clippership Connector in their 5 year plan and construction is anticipated to begin soon.
- The Commonwealth Ave Carriageway Restoration is scheduled for TIP funding in 2025 and received Newton CPA funding for 25% design.
- Two extensions of the Peabody Independence Greenway to connect over 1 and I-95 and to connect to the Northshore Mall are scheduled for TIP funding in 2024 and 2025.
Planning to Get Projects Built
- Saxonville levy walk in Framingham
- Charlesgate Park and connections are in design.
- The DCR is working Doyle Park and Path neighbors on design for park improvements and path along the Neponset River.
- The DCR is working with Edgewater Neighborhood for on design for park and path improvements along the Neponset River.
Informing Design Alternatives
- Groundwork Lawrence Water Street greenway study
- Mystic River to Minuteman Path Connector
- Salem and Peabody North river corridor study completed
Quickly Testing Changes
- Billerica Downtown Age Friendly Connections – Senior Pollinator Garden
- Community gathering on the site of the future Edgewater and Doyle greenway
- Friends of the Cochituate Rail Trail Community Celebration and Commemorative Art
- Holyoke Shared Streets
- Mobile bike repair workshop in Lynn hosted by LEO inc.
- Norumbega path clearing event
- Parker Street Bike Lane Newton
- Seasonal closure of Little Greenough, bike pop up event
- Somerville Shared Streets 2.0
Impact Data from 23 Communities
Cities and towns across Massachusetts are implementing innovations on their streets. Quick and creative projects that prioritize people are having big impacts. These changes are mostly simple: making space for chairs and tables for neighbors to sit and chat, slowing down traffic via cones so kids can play and bike to school, and painting bus lanes for essential workers to travel faster. This report shares examples and impact data from 23 municipalities over the course of 2020 and 2021 and shows that simple changes have big impacts
Happy Trails!
In 2021, ribbon cuttings were held for the Pony Truss Trail and the Cochituate Rail Trail.
