EMERALD NECKLACE CONSERVANCY ANNUAL Connecting REPORT 2015 People and Parks “In an increasingly segmented society, the Emerald Necklace is the common ground that Letter from the President unites us—a place where people from all walks of life come together for respite, recreation It has been a joy and honor to lead the Emerald and community, just as Frederick Law Olmsted envisioned more than a century ago.” Necklace Conservancy for the past eight years. —Julie Crockford, President, Emerald Necklace Conservancy Looking back at what we have accomplished together has crystalized my realization that great parks happen only when there is both public and private BOARD OF DIRECTORS EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS Franklin Park Coalition Stan Everett support. A strong partnership in which we all invest Franklin Park Zoo / Zoo New Dan Herzlinger Michael S. Dukakis, Life Christopher Cook, in our parks gives the greatest return. England Lola Heiler-Stillman Trustee Commissioner, Boston Parks Friends of Jamaica Pond Judy MacNeill Benjamin Taylor, Chair and Recreation Friends of Leverett Pond Dan Moulton Thanks to your support, our capacity and impact John R. Cook, Jr., Vice Chair Erin Gallentine, Director, Friends of the Muddy River Barbara Nazarewicz expanded in 2015 with the addition of new staff. Leo Swift, Treasurer Brookline Parks and Open Garden Club Federation of MA Lucy Robb Message from the Board Chair Susan Helms Daley, Clerk Space Volunteer coordinator, Ellen Arnstein, is bringing Isabella Stewart Gardner Nancy Stutzman Janet P. Atkins Leo Roy, Commissioner, MA record numbers of individuals and groups into Museum I’d like to share a few words with you about the Peter Barber Department of Conservation the parks for clean-ups, rose care and woodlands Jamaica Hills Association Eleanor Cornish Chu and Recreation STAFF accomplishments of the Conservancy under Julie Jamaica Pond Association restoration. Kent Jackson, director of education, is Anne Connolly Andrew Pappastergion, Crockford’s leadership. In many ways, the Emerald MASCO Ellen Arnstein widening our educational reach using the Emerald Lynn A. Dale Commissioner, Brookline Necklace Conservancy has never been stronger, Museum of Fine Arts Boston Julie Crockford Necklace as an outdoor classroom to connect Chris DeSisto Department of Public Works its efforts never more essential in making Boston Mary Hickie schoolchildren and nature. And thanks to our new Courtney Forrester John Sullivan, Jr., Boston Water Kent Jackson a healthy, livable city. From developing the Green Sarah Freeman STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL communications coordinator, Tessa Rose, we are and Sewer Commission Emma Rose Kiefer Team youth program in 2008 to the opening of the Marjorie Greville connecting with a new audience through social media Charles Beveridge Susan Knight Shattuck Visitor Center in 2011 to the launch of the Martin Hall PARK OVERSEERS Frances Colburn Jeanine Knox and innovative programming. Roger F. Harris, PhD Bruce Enders Ray Oladapo-Johnson Olmsted Tree Society in 2013 and the Speak Out James Hunnewell, Jr., AIA Arborway Coalition Grace Fey Tessa Rose In an increasingly segmented society, the Emerald series in 2016, Julie has helped increase the capacity Beth Krudys Arnold Arboretum Myra Harrison John Smith Allison O’Neil Boston Committee of the Necklace is the common ground that unites us—a Mimi LaCamera Jessica Welch developed during her tenure are thriving and Adrienne Penta Garden Club of America place where people from all walks of life come Arleyn Levee and significance of the work we do. Programs Katherine Post Boston Society of Landscape together for respite, recreation and community, just making measurable impacts in the parks. Architects Bill Nigreen INTERNS Wendy Shattuck as Frederick Law Olmsted envisioned more than a Brookline GreenSpace Louise Riemer Susan Knight, director of development, will Kay Sloan Viviana Aluia century ago. The parks are democracy come to life, Peter Sougarides Alliance David Scudder Paige Dolci serve as interim president while we search for Emerald Necklace Greenway Leslie Stacks a verdant swath of nature and fresh air that beckons Linda Edmonds Turner Mary Kiser the Conservancy's next leader. With Susan's able Project and welcomes one and all. The Emerald Necklace Carroll Williamson, Chair, Jessica Nahigian leadership, an excellent staff, and your continued Park Overseers Fenway Alliance DOCENTS Conservancy is committed to making the Emerald support, we are positioned to connect even Marjorie Bakken, Emeritus Fenway CDC Necklace the best it can be today and for the future Fenway Civic Association Barbara Balasa greater numbers of people with the parks through Susan Helms Daley generations that will savor this green space in the Fenway Garden Society expanded programming, educational initiatives heart of an ever more urban world. and new collaborations. As I leave the Conservancy, the parks will continue to play an important part of my life. I invite you to share this annual report with friends and encourage them to join you in supporting the Emerald Necklace. It’s Benjamin Taylor only when we all pitch in to help that we can make Chair our parks great. Julie Crockford President 1 Erik Gehring EMERALD NECKLACE CONSERVANCY Connecting People and Parks through Preservation Erik Gehring Seeing Olmsted’s genius “Ron was married to the Necklace; for him it “Our Emerald Necklace Tree Management Plan BY THE NUMBERS became an all-consuming engagement” informs the work we do in the parks with the help through a singular walk —Keith Kurman of volunteers and in collaboration with Boston Parks The Olmsted Tree Society (OTS) was established in and Recreation, Brookline Parks and Open Space Olmsted himself. A year later, he felt equipped 2013 to preserve and protect the trees of the and the Department of Conservation.” Emerald Necklace. to offer a performance event—“On the Emerald Necklace”—a series of 35 walks taken by the —Ray Oladapo-Johnson, Director of Park Operations 748 For many, the Emerald Necklace serves as a artist and one individual along the entire length exploring the length of these linear parks.” Nita Sturiale, Emerald Necklace trees pruned source of great meaning and treasured memories. of the Necklace. These walks were a way for artist and MassArt colleague of Ron, recognized this as This holds true for Gloria Wallace, who, in 2015, Ron to bring someone into the space and he was well. “Ron resonated with Olmsted’s attention to the sponsored a tree in memory of her late husband, prepared to respond to anything that might come most minute details, yet also appreciated his genius in Ron. Ron dedicated many years to learning, teaching up for that individual. “He didn’t want to direct the sculpting beauty. As an artist, he recognized the need and experiencing Olmsted’s masterpiece from the participant but, rather, to interrelate with them, so for contemplation and the transformative effects of our perspective of an artist and a true devotee of that each walk was a unique, bonded perceptual natural surroundings.” She noted that Ron also connected nature. His deep connection to the Emerald experience,” offered Gloria Wallace, Ron’s wife of deeply with Olmsted’s sense of democracy and quiet Necklace revealed itself in the walks he designed 15 years. 613 and guided. Here is his story. introspection. “He carried a nineteenth-century style “Ron was particularly taken by Olmsted’s ability of gentility and progressive thought, much like the Shrubs and perennials planted enlightened thinkers of that time.” to create mini-ecosystems within the Necklace,” along The Fenway in the early 1970’s, Ron Wallace was drawn to offered Keith Kurman, landscape designer and Ron succumbed to his battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s FrederickFrom his first Law exposure Olmsted’s to ability the Emerald to combine Necklace the friend. “He was continually fascinated by the practical needs of society with the parallel need disease) in August of 2015. Soon after his passing, for beauty and respite. As both an artist and later, Gloria Wallace worked through the Conservancy to a designer of leading-edge technology, Ron shared multiple layers of minutiae one finds while dedicate a tree to honor her husband. She chose a giant this unique dichotomy and later used it to introduce Northern Red Oak adjacent to a footbridge slated for scores of individuals to the wonders of the Emerald restoration. “He would have loved the fact that when the Necklace. restored bridge is open once again, the tree will be there to welcome those entering Olmsted’s Riverway—much In 1983, Ron took a year off to fully immerse himself as Ron himself did in life.” in learning everything about the Emerald Necklace Photo above right: Friends and family gather at the tree —botany, landscaping, urban topology, and about bearing a plaque in memory of Ron Wallace. RestorationP reservationE ducationA ccessibilityA dvocacyS ustainability 2 3 EMERALD NECKLACE CONSERVANCY Connecting People and Parks through Stewardship & Education Promoting exploration and rich outdoor classroom and as more attention is “The work we do in the Emerald Necklace Summer 2015 Green Team Results paid to exposing our young people to nature, we is important because we need to keep the immersion in an outdoor believe the Conservancy is in a unique position to Earth healthy for future generations.” BY THE NUMBERS classroom provide younger students with an entrée into the —Paul, Green Team member natural world, infusing them with environmental Education is a key component of many learning they’ll hopefully carry into adulthood,” offered Susan Helms Daley, Conservancy board Conservancy programs—from docent-led tours For Kent Jackson, that also means providing younger 22 member and chair of the Education Working and interpretive activities that enrich the park students with critical STEM (science, technology, Group. “The nurturing of a child’s curiosity in visitor experience to volunteer training that engineering, and math) training, particularly in the Number of youth who participated the outdoors— includes an introduction to invasive species and climbing, touching, observing, natural sciences.