Emerald Necklace Conservancy encourages everyone to celebrate Labor Day by enjoying Boston’s public parks

This Labor Day weekend, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy is encouraging residents and visitors alike to celebrate the holiday by spending time in Greater Boston’s most treasured public landscape: the Emerald Necklace parks.

Labor Day honors the contributions of working people who have built and continue to shape our communities. One meaningful way to celebrate that legacy is by enjoying the public parks that were created to be accessible to everyone. That vision was at the heart of Frederick Law Olmsted’s design for the Emerald Necklace. Widely regarded as the father of American landscape architecture, Olmsted believed parks should serve as democratic spaces where people of all backgrounds, occupations, and walks of life could find rest, recreation, inspiration, and connection with nature—and with one another.

Boston’s parks are now easier to discover than ever. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy recently launched an interactive map as part of its newly transformed and enhanced website, putting the entire 1,100-acre park system at visitors’ fingertips. Designed to inspire exploration and make the parks more accessible to everyone, the map allows users to discover scenic pathways, landmarks, destinations, amenities, and access points—and easily plan their own adventures throughout the Emerald Necklace. Whether looking for a new place to walk, a favorite destination, or a hidden gem to explore, the interactive map makes it easier to find your way and experience all that Boston’s iconic park system has to offer.

“This Labor Day, we hope everyone will experience the Emerald Necklace and celebrate the enduring idea that great public parks belong to all of us,” said Karen Mauney-Brodek, President of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. “Whether you’re taking a walk, riding a bike, enjoying a family barbecue, or simply finding a quiet place to contemplate, the Emerald Necklace offers something for everyone.”

From the winding trails of the Riverway to the broad meadows of Franklin Park and the scenic shores of Jamaica Pond, the Emerald Necklace offers countless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors over the holiday weekend and throughout the year. Time spent in nature and green space supports both physical and mental well-being—providing opportunities to walk, exercise, recharge, reduce stress, and connect with the natural world. The Emerald Necklace offers space for everyone to move, breathe, and reconnect.

To explore the interactive map and learn more about the Emerald Necklace, please visit www.emeraldnecklace.org

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy is a non-profit organization founded in 1997 to steward and champion the Emerald Necklace, Boston’s largest park system. The Conservancy protects, restores, helps maintain and promotes the Emerald Necklace’s seven distinct parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and comprises 1,100 acres of meadows, woodlands and paths. In collaboration with its public partners, the Conservancy provides maintenance of the parks and capital restoration projects, free cultural events, visitor services and environmental education. The parks serve as a respite from the city, a valuable commuting connector and a community convener for more than one million residents and tourists each year. www.emeraldnecklace.org.