Collaborate Around a Shared Vision
Our Process
We care deeply about connecting underserved people with pubic spaces that have been closed off to them for generations. To shape projects that meet their needs and build their capacity we engagement with groups over long periods of time sometime hiring consultants to help lead the process.
Partnering typically begins with a planning process that brings together government agencies, non-profits organizations, community groups, and potential contributors around an idea and common set of goals. We rigorously test the feasibility of ideas through careful analysis, thoughtful planning, and early design studies. We are able to identify possible barriers to success early on and work to address them. Our goal is to explore and understand what is possible, to build the capacity of our local partners to advocate effectively, and to set up our government partners for success as they take on these projects. Each player has a role to play and brings unique strengths to the effort and each shares ownership in the final outcome years later.
We seek partnerships with
- Grassroots community groups
- Neighborhood Associations
- Cities and towns
- Regional and State Government Agencies
- Local and regional nonprofits
We focus our technical assistance and grant making within the Greater Boston region – generally the area bounded by Interstate 128. Within this region we direct our technical assistance and grant making to three categories:
- Preliminary design studies of specific projects that help policy makers understand the benefits and costs of specific initiatives.
- General operating support for a limited number of organizations that provide regional leadership around greenway planning and design.
- Public engagement strategies (pilots, activations, surveys, external assessments, civic gatherings) intended to introduce people to a greenway, to animate public spaces and discourse, and test feasibility.
We seek out projects that:
- Help complete a network of paths and parks
- Can become a shared resource for diverse users and serve dense neighborhoods most in need of open space
- Provide a memorable experience that can attract people to venture outdoors
- Fit within a broader regional vision and plan
- Can obtain the necessary permits
- Provide public value for the time and money spent
- Have the potential for broad political support
- Are likely to be funded for design and construction because potential funding sources have already been identified
- Are maintainable and sustainable
Funding and Partnerships
We consider requests for funding on a rolling basis.
We direct our technical assistance and grant making to three categories:
- Preliminary design studies of specific projects to help policy makers understand the benefits and costs of specific initiatives.
- General operating support for organizations that provide regional leadership around greenway planning and design.
- Public engagement and implementation strategies (pop up parks, surveys, external assessments, civic gatherings) intended to introduce people to a greenway or park, to prompt public discourse, and to test ideas for how to program and use a space.
Our annual grant making for 2023 is $450,000. A list of A Greener Greater Boston’s past grant making can be seen here.
If you have some ideas for enhancing the beauty, utility, and accessibility of Greater Boston’s greenways that you’d like to share please contact us. Tell us the what you have in mind and who owns and manages the resource. Tell us who your partners are what groups would benefit from this effort. We will look over all ideas, big or small, and do our best to get back to you with some initial feedback within a week or two. In some cases we may ask for further information.
Here’s a list of other sources of funding and technical assistance for greenways in the Greater Boston area.
Key Partners from past projects
Our work is collaborative by nature with leadership shifting from one partner to the next as projects mature. Our role is to help initiate open space projects with partners, connect stakeholders, and maintain momentum to get results.
Here are just a few of our incredible recent partners:
To learn more about the amazing work of our municipal, nonprofit, and community partners visit our project pages.