►
Description
Mayor Walsh is committed to having an administration that is accountable to all residents, no matter who you are or where you live. Commissioners Corner introduces you to your city leaders, who will showcase their agencies and discuss information that is important to everyone in this great city. Host, Lois Leonard, is joined by The Boston Parks Commissioner, Chris Cook, to discuss Boston’s parks, including the groundbreaking of the city’s newest waterfront park, Martin’s Park near the Children’s Museum.
A
Welcome
to
commissioner's
corner
I'm,
your
host
Louis,
Leonard
and
I
have
a
question
for
you:
did
you
know
that
our
city
streets
have
over
35,000
trees
and
another
125,000
grow
in
our
parks
and
open
spaces?
Boston
has
217
playgrounds,
fields
and
parks.
Two
golf
courses,
75
game
courts
and
the
list
goes
on.
Someone
has
to
be
responsible
for
taking
care
of
these
resources,
and
today
we've
asked
our
Commissioner
of
Boston,
Parks
and
Recreation
Christopher
cook
to
join
us,
and
let
us
know
how
he
keeps
these
spaces
clean,
green,
safe
and
accessible.
B
B
Very
fortunate,
so,
prior
to
this
role,
I
was
actually
the
director
of
arts,
tourism
and
special
events,
and
that
that
position
is
actually
split
up
into
two
offices.
Now,
because
one
of
the
first
things
that
I'm
mayor
Walsh
did
when
he
came
in
with
his
administration,
is
he
wanted
to
elevate
the
Arts
in
the
city
of
Boston?
So
he
actually
created
a
cabinet-level
arts
position,
so
there's
now
an
office
of
arts
and
culture,
and
then
he
split
that
off
at
the
office
of
special
events.
B
I
was
very
fortunate,
given
my
background
to
to
go
over
on
an
interim
basis
over
to
Parks
and
Recreation,
because
we
were
heading
into
the
summer
season,
which
was
so
busy
with
different
special
events
and
I've,
been
there
since
I've
been
very
fortunate
to
be
at
such
a
historic
and
really
great
department.
Okay,.
A
B
I'll
tell
you
what
there's
a
lot
of
street
trees
in
the
city
of
Boston
I
mean
I.
Think
our
our
last
count,
which
is
really
just
an
estimate,
is
well
over
35,000.
We
just
stick
contracted
with
a
partnership
with
the
University
of
Vermont,
do
an
assessment
of
our
treat
canapé,
and
it
looks
like
we're
going
to
be
coming
in
around
27
28
percent
tree
canopy
in
the
city.
That
means
we
have
a
lot
of
work
to
do.
B
We
actually
would
like
to
increase
the
camp
canopy
if
possible,
because
tree
trees
have
an
enormous
amount
of
benefits.
First
off,
not
only
do
they
they
process
a
lot
of
co2,
obviously,
for
everyone
involved.
They're
incredibly
helpful
with
the
heat
island
effect,
some
of
our
neighbors,
our
neighborhoods,
get
really
really
hot
in
the
summer
more
trees.
There
are
that
helps
with
that.
Also,
it's
a
little-known
fact
that
actually
extends
the
pavement
life
a
well
treated
street.
B
Your
pavement
actually
lasts
longer
because
of
the
temperature
differential
on
the
streets,
and
it
also
processes
a
lot
of
stormwater.
So
street
trees
are
enormous,
ly
beneficial
to
the
city,
so
we
actually
have
to
I.
Think
be
more
aggressive
about
finding
locations
to
plant
them
in,
but
we
actually
rely
a
lot
on
the
public
for
the
Charis
tree
trees.
We
use
the
3-1-1
system
to
identify
trees
that
are
potential
hazards
that
need
to
be
removed.
B
3-1-1
also
lets
us
know
when
there
might
be
a
tree
and
stress
and
actually
need
some
pruning
or
need
some
care.
So
without
the
public's
partnership
in
this
we'd
be
nowhere.
We
don't
have
thirty
five
thousand
employees
to
go
monitor
each
tree,
so
the
public
plays
a
vital
role
in
the
stewardship
of
the
canopy.
Well,.
A
B
I
think
we're
doing
very
well
mayor
Walsh,
as
well
as
the
city
council,
has
expanded
our
budget
his
first
three
years
in
office
and
we're
very,
very
fortunate
to
be
the
recipient
of
that.
In
addition
to
that,
is
it's
not
okay
for
us
to
take
additional
taxpayer
money
if
we're
not
looking
for
efficiencies.
B
So
we're
also
looking
for
ways
to
be
good
stewards
of
those
funds,
as
they
become
available,
whether
that's
smart
or
contracting,
or
different
services
that
we're
trying
to
providing
what
we're
finding
from
people
is
that,
with
the
increased
population
in
Boston,
our
parks
are
busier
than
ever
and
with
that
busyness
comes
greater
expectations.
Things
people
want
to
see
recycling
people
want
to
see
more
splash
pads.
A
B
Much
nicer
ya
know
it's
it's
one
of
the
again.
It's
all.
The
credit
goes
to
the
mayor
of
Boston,
the
mayor
identified
very
early
on
in
a
capital
plan
that
we
had
that
every
year
we
had
roughly
two
hundred
thousand
dollars
set
aside
for
Franklin
Park
pathways
and
Franklin
Park
is
our
is
our
largest
park.
You
know
it's
not.
B
Five
hundred
acres-
it's
arguably
the
most
important
natural
asset
that
the
city
of
Boston
owns
and
two
hundred
thousand
dollars
every
year
does
not
get
you
very
far
in
those
pathways,
and
so
what
he
said
is
well.
What
would
what
would
it
take
to
make
a
major
impact
when
we
said
about
five
million
dollars
and
we're
three-quarters
of
the
way
through
that
five
million
dollar
initial
pathway
investment?
And
it's
really
transformed
the
walking
experience
there?
What
we
find
that
a
lot
more
people
using
it
for
walking
a
lot
more
people
using
it
for
jogging?
B
It's
actually
creating
a
more
welcoming
experience
for
for
visitors
to
the
park
as
well.
So
we're
excited
about
that.
But
we're
not
going
to
stop
there,
we're
in
the
middle
of
a
Franklin
Park
study
to
to
open
up
the
American
Legion
side
in
the
canterbury
street
side
of
the
park,
to
make
sure
that
there's
another
entrance
there
for
the
growing
population
in
eastern
rasen,
Dale
and
I
park,
so
that
they
have
access
to
this
great
natural
asset.
B
Not
just
the
sidewalks
I
mean
we
have
a
very
robust
capital
plan.
One
of
the
parks
that
were
very
excited
about
is
Smithfield
in
in
Allston.
That's
a
major
recreational
sports
facility.
That's
going
to
be
completely
renovated
and
we're
doing
that
in
partnership
with
Harvard
University.
The
focus
here
is
to
really
maximize
philanthropic
and
private
dollars,
with
the
city's
capital
budget
and
a
great
example
that
is
in
the
south
end
lower
Roxbury
Carter
playground.
That's
a
the
ship
with
northeastern
it's
going
to
transform
Carter
playground
to
the
tune
of
26
million
dollars.
B
B
What
goes
into
it
is
very
complex,
but
the
message
is
very
simple,
which
is:
parks
are
one
of
the
first
opportunities
that
we
have
to
address
issues
around
accessibility,
around
equity
and
and
frankly,
environmental
stewardship
in
our
neighborhoods.
And
so
the
idea
is
that
parks,
first,
access,
equity
and
excellence.
First
off.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
people
have
great
access
to
wonderful
green
spaces
in
their
city.
We
want
to
make
sure,
there's
an
equity
and
how
those
facilities
are
taken
care
of
and
how
they're
distributed.
B
Now
the
money
for
those
facilities
are
distributed,
and
then
the
third
part
is
really
about
this
environmental
stewardship
component
excellence.
I
want
to
make
sure
that
there's
an
excellence
in
design
and
an
excellence
and
maintenance
responsibilities
at
those
parks,
and
so
that
we're
really
good
stewards,
whether
it's
recycling
water,
when
we
can,
when
we
have
the
ability
taking
care
of
stormwater
when
we
have
the
ability
making
sure
that
we
expand
the
recycling
program
as
much
as
we
can
making
sure
that
these
spaces
are
clean
and
safe.
B
A
B
A
B
Catch
up
to
them
soon,
but
it's
actually
a
trust
for
public
land
ranking
and
something
we're
very,
very
proud
of.
What's
important,
though,
is
that
there's
only
real
value
to
that
statistic?
The
idea
that
98%
of
our
residents
are
within
a
ten
minute
walk
to
a
park,
there's
only
real
value
in
that
statistic.
A
B
B
So
what
we're
trying
to
do,
which
is
great,
because
it's
really
the
industry-
that's
moving
this
along,
because
we're
trying
to
move
from
a
model
of
ad
a
compliance
to
Universal,
accessibility-
and
you
know,
Boston-
has
a
very
strong
senior
population.
That's
growing
every
day
we
also
have
a
great
vibrant
young
population
every
day
and
the
park
has
to
relate
to
both
those
those
populations.
So
when
you
look
at
it,
you
know
something
as
simple
as
the
grading
of
the
pathways.
How.
A
B
It
is
to
navigate
the
outdoor
exercise.
Equipment
can
people
with
different
abilities
and
different
body
types
access
that
that
outdoor
exercise
equipment.
That
might
be
the
only
gym
that
that
person
is
able
to
use.
And
then
we
want
to
make
sure
that
a
kid,
regardless
of
their
abilities,
whether
they're
on
the
autism
spectrum
or
whether
they
have
mobility
issues.
They
have
a
meaningful
experience
when
they
get
to
that
park
and
not
just
the
one
swing
tucked
in
the
side
anymore
want
to
make
sure
that
they
can
interact
with
most
of
the
things
in
the
park.
B
It's
very
different,
it's
very
different,
and
it
requires
a
lot
of
planning
law
designed
and
a
lot
of
communication
with
the
community
as
we
go
into
as
we
go
into
design
on
these
in
these
these
parks,
but
its
enormous
ly
valuable
for
the
kid
to
have
sort
of
a
welcoming
feeling
when
they
enter
a
park,
as
opposed
to
try
to
find
the
one
or
two
things
that
might
be
for
them.
Children's.
B
A
new
it's
a
new
park,
it's
a
well
it's
a
rehabilitated
Park,
but
it
might
as
well
be
a
new
park
because
we
doubled
the
size
of
it,
and
this
was
just
an
extraordinary
collaboration
between
multiple
city
departments
and
I.
Got
to
tell
you
it's
it's
something
that
can
happen.
One
of
the
first
things
that
mayor
Walsh
directed
all
of
us
to
do
is
you
know
to
get
out
of
our
silos
and
start
working
together.
Collaboratively
well
collaborations
take
a
lot
of
work
and
they
take
a
lot
of
time.
B
But
when
you
see
the
results,
so
you
look
at
a
place
like
Children's,
Park
and
Roxbury.
It
was
on
the
backside
of
the
Lela
G
Frederick,
which
has
level
4
inclusion,
so
kids
with
severe
mobility
issues,
kids
that
are
affected
by
autism,
but
they
had
no
access
to
a
playground.
In
fact,
they
would
go
on
field
trips
over
to
the
Spaulding
rehab
to
go
over
to
their
accessible
park
and
I
was
almost
a
30-minute
ride
and
there
was
a
playground
right
behind
them.
They
couldn't
use.
B
So
we
were
able
to
work
in
with
the
school
department.
We
took
down
the
fence,
we
created
an
entrance
into
the
park,
we
filled
it
with
accessible
play
equipment,
it's
used
every
day,
not
just
by
the
Frederick,
but
also
the
people
in
the
neighborhood.
But
then,
in
addition
to
that,
we
partnered
with
the
Department
of
Neighborhood
Development
that
owned
a
vacant
lot
and
a
burned
out
building
right
next
door.
B
We
were
able
to
expand
the
park
which
gave
us
the
grading
so
that
we
could
have
more
accessable
play
value
in
the
park,
so
Department
Neighborhood
Development
the
school
department
in
Boston,
Parks
Department,
all
working
together
with
the
community,
and
it
resulted
in
a
place
that
all
kids
are
welcome,
sounds
like
something
you
can
be
proud
of.
We're.
B
Park
64
sleeper
Street,
it's
a
very
unique
sight.
Anyone
who's
visited,
the
chilled
Newseum
is
probably
familiar
with
it.
It's
a
patch
of
green.
That's
next
to
the
children
is
Ann
in
about
a
year.
They
they
won't
recognize
the
spot.
It's
gonna,
look
absolutely
amazing.
It's
gonna
be,
unlike
anything,
that
we
have
in
the
city
of
Boston.
It's
going
to
add
a
verdant,
be
called
like
landscape
along
the
four
point
channel
that
everyone
will
instantly
recognize
as
the
park.
We
actually
think
it's
an
elevation
of
design
that
that
Boston
hasn't
really
seen
in
it's
playgrounds.
B
Michael
Van
Valkenburgh
is
the
landscape
architect
on
the
project.
He
designed
Maggie
Daley
Park
in
Chicago,
Brooklyn,
Bridge
Park
down
in
New
York,
we're
very,
very
excited
about
it.
Obviously,
it's
gonna
get
a
ton
of
usage,
given
the
proximity
to
the
show
museum,
but
also
the
growing
Seaport
in
downtown
populations
and
those
those
are
families
that
have
really
young
kids
and
they
don't
have
a
lot
of
taught
Lots.
So
it's
going
to
be
a
great
neighborhood
park
and
obviously
it's
named
in
honor
of
Martin
Richard,
who
was
the
youngest
victim
of
the
Marathon
bombings.
B
A
That's
wonderful,
summertime
I
bet
that
brings
its
own
unique
set
of
challenges
for
you.
There's
a
lot
more
people
in
the
park
for
one
school
age,
kids
are
not
in
school,
they're,
they're
hanging
and
looking
for
something
to
do.
Perhaps
the
homeless
population
is
a
little
more
apparent
out
on
the
in
the
parks.
Yeah.
B
B
B
A
B
Very
busy
on
our
properties,
but
but
again
we
really
got
to
reach
out
to
the
people
that
surround
these
parks
and
be
very
grateful
to
them.
I
can't
tell
you
that
countless
amounts
of
friends
groups
that
actually
do
the
leaf
pickup
themselves
and
they'll
do
it.
You
know,
and
we're
more
than
happy
to
assist
with
that.
B
If
someone
wants
to
clean
a
park,
if
someone
wants
to
assist
us
with
an
activity
and
have
a
park,
a
volunteer
group,
you
know
they
can
wheel
provided
in
the
bags,
will
provide
them
some
of
the
tools
and
we'll
come
back
later
and
take
the
mess
away
after
they're
done
working
hard
on
it.
It's
really
these
partnerships
around
parks
that
make
them
great
well.
B
A
B
Enormous
ly
relevant
to
us
I
mean
it's
interesting.
When
you
look
at
the
history
of
the
Emerald
Necklace
and
why-why-why
Olmstead
in
the
Olmstead
corporation
were
actually
contracted
by
the
D
parks.
Commission
of
the
city
of
Boston.
It
was
to
offset
some
of
the
pressures
of
a
period
of
rapid
growth
and
development
in
the
city
of
Boston.
They
were
trying
to
add
open
space,
so
people
could
literally
go
and
recently.
A
B
Right,
yeah
and,
and
also
there
was
also
a
huge
stormwater
benefit
with
the
project
of
it,
the
muddy
river
and
and
how
much
flooding
used
to
happen
there.
So
a
lot
of
those
problems
are
the
same
problems
that
we
face
today,
and
so
that
means
that
these
parks,
which
was
an
extraordinary
amount
of
foresight
by
those
folks
over
a
hundred
years
ago,
as
you
said
they
they
need
to
be
relevant
to
these
populations
that
are
coming
today,
and
so
that
means
programming,
and
that
means
maintenance.
B
So
there's
more
people
enjoying
these
parks
than
ever,
which
means
we
have
to
maintain
them
at
a
much
higher
level,
and
we
do
that
in
partnership
in
the
Emerald
Necklace,
with
the
Emerald
Necklace
Conservancy,
as
well
as
other
partner
groups
throughout
the
necklace
Franklin
Park
coalition,
Jamaica
pond
association.
Without
those
groups
it
would,
it
would
be
hard
to
imagine
the
state
of
neglect
that
the
necklace
would
be
in
and
it's
it's
just
beautiful
right,
I.
B
B
B
B
A
B
I'd
love
to
I
mean
it
was.
It
was
an
extraordinary
project
that
the
city
undertook
in
partnership
with
multiple
agencies.
You
know
federal
state
agencies,
but
basically
that
was
the
Gardiner
Street
dump.
You
know
for
four
years
and
it
was
in
a
terrible
location
for
a
dumpster
behind
a
high
school
complex.
You.
B
In
the
high
school,
the
Athletic
Complex
was
also
in
a
state
of
disarray.
So
now,
when
you
go
there
and
West
Roxbury,
it's
it's
one
of
our
premier
recreational
fields
and
in
addition
to
that,
there's
this
whole
natural
component
that
you
mentioned
that
you
really
do
feel
like
you're
away
from
the
city
I
mean
if
the
the
park
shape
is
largely
defined
by
the
flow
of
the
Charles
River
I
mean
it's
just
an
incredibly
beautiful
landscape,
we're
very,
very
fortunate
to
have
dedicated
staff
out
there.
B
A
B
B
B
I
mean
it's:
it's
it's
not
a
trick
question
because
I,
you
know,
I
might
get
criticism
from
other
friends
groups,
but
I've
always
had
a
special
place
in
my
heart
for
for
Columbus
Waterfront
Park
in
the
north
end
again,
that's
another
park
that
looks
beautiful
because
of
the
friends
group.
That's
there,
the
Friends
of
Christopher
Columbus
Park,
but
it
literally
has
everything,
especially
when
my
kids
were
little
or
littler
than
they
are
now
we
could
go
there.
They
had
they
had
boats,
they
had
a
talk.
B
A
A
We
thank
you.
Our
viewers
for
joining
us
much
more
information
is
available
online
at
Boston
gov,
slash
parks.
Here
you
can
search
for
your
neighborhood
Park
apply
for
a
permit
to
hold
an
event
or
even
a
wedding
in
a
park
or
how
you
might
donate
your
time
or
money
to
support
our
community's
outdoor
spaces.
I'm
Louis
Leonard,
and
thank
you
for
watching
commissioners
corner.