cityofboston.gov - Official Web Site of the City of Boston Text size: A A A Home 311 Payments Residents Businesses Visitors Students Government Olmsted Park Established in 1891 Frederick Law Olmsted said of the park area that would later bear his name: "the locality is at present very attractive, including as it does, Ward's Pond with its verdure-clad, precipitous banks, a steep wooded hill, several groves and two meadows . . ." Given the inherent beauty of the land, Olmsted made minor changes to it, compared to what was done in the Fens and Riverway. Here he wanted to reveal the natural features to us. To do this, he designed pathways and planting patterns that would create a series of dramatic vistas that unfold the shapes, proportions and relationships of the landforms before us. Originally, this park was intended to have an educational function too. South of Willow Pond Road, small pools were carved out to be used as natural history exhibits. When needed funds did not materialize, most of the pools were soon filled in. On warm summer evenings, Olmsted's sweeping meadow is the scene of spirited neighborhood ball games on what is now Daisy Field, while Ward's Pond remains a peaceful preserve. Much of the park is heavily wooded, but Leverett Pond, forming the western border, presents a beautiful vista. Olmsted planned it this way; he favored open and closed landscapes in sequence to create a varied experience for the viewer. The Muddy River and Leverett Pond form the boundary between the City of Boston and the Town of Brookline. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy is a non-profit citizen's advocacy group whose mission is to protect, restore, maintain and promote the landscape, waterways and parkways of the Emerald Necklace park system as special places for people to visit and enjoy. The organization focuses on the six parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Parks & Recreation Home About Permits and Forms Maintenance Trees Emerald Necklace Boston Common Public Garden Commonwealth Avenue Mall Back Bay Fens The Riverway Olmsted Park Jamaica Pond Arnold Arboretum Franklin Park Things to Do Golf Courses Recreation Design & Construction Urban Wilds Cemeteries Historic Burying Grounds Park Rangers Rules & Regulations Vending Internships Donate Open Space Plan Contact Us Parks Department 1010 Hours & Directions 311 Services City Departments Select a Department Administration and Finance Animal Care & Control Archives and Records Assessing Auditing Arts & Culture Bikes Board of Appeals Boston Centers for Youth & Families Boston Housing Authority Boston Residents Jobs Policy BRA / EDIC Budget Management Cable Office City Clerk City Council Consumer Affairs & Licensing Disabilities Commission Elderly Affairs Election Department Emergency Medical Services Emergency Management Emergency Shelter Commission Environment Environment, Energy, & Open Space Fair Housing & Equity Family Justice Center Financial Empowerment Fire Food Initiatives Gaming Accountability Human Resources Human Services Innovation & Technology Inspectional Services Intergovernmental Relations Labor Relations Landmarks Commission Law Department Library Licensing Board Mayor's Office Neighborhood Development Neighborhood Services New Bostonians Parking Clerk Parks & Recreation Police Property & Construction Management Public Health Public Works Purchasing Registry Division Retirement Board Schools Small & Local Business Enterprise StartHub Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment Transportation Treasury Workforce Development Veterans' Services Women's Advancement Worker's Compensation Youth Council Youth Engagement & Employment Youth Fund Search: Related Links Brookline Parks Emerald Necklace Conservancy Contact Info Email Alert Trouble Opening Files Privacy & Security © City of Boston. All rights reserved.