When it comes to Boston’s parks, people tend to overlook our urban wilds. We’re blessed with 38 of these spaces – some teeny and others sprawling. Belle Isle Marsh Reservation is significant because it’s Boston’s very last salt marsh. It also happens to be an inviting and pretty spot to unwind.
You don’t expect a park this lovely to be hiding so close to the airport, but Belle Isle Marsh Reservation is located at 1284 Bennington Street in East Boston.
Belle Isle Marsh may look serene but there’s a surprising amount of activity happening here, even if we can’t see it. Salt marshes are productive ecosystems that provide a much-needed habitat for wildlife and plants.
Boston was once surrounded by salt marshes, but approximately 81% of those are now gone.
This little oasis is open from 9:00 a.m. until dusk.
The next time you’re seeking a reprieve from the city but don’t want to venture far, visit Belle Isle Marsh Reservation. You’ll be amazed that such a unique place has been hiding in plain sight all this time.
You may also be interested in this park that feels like it belongs in a fairytale!
Regardless of age, Bostonians like to take advantage of good weather whenever possible. However, returning to the same places again and again makes them lose their luster. Mix things up by taking the kids in your life to a playground they've never visited before. You'd be surprised at all the great options out there. Here are 11 fantastically fun playgrounds in Boston:
This beloved playground on Boston Common offers a frog-themed play space in a super convenient location. Afterward, take the kids to the carousel or to dart through the Frog Pond Spray Pool.
Here is one place where you can forget about adulting and pretend to be a kid again. Grab some friends and chill out on swings or play some corn hole and bocce - people of all ages are welcome to unwind here. Lawn on D, at 420 D Street in Boston, reopens for the season in just a few weeks.
3. Alexander W. Kemp Playground at Cambridge Common
Play with water tables, create an architectural masterpiece with building blocks, or ride the dish swing with friends. This sandy space offers opportunities for imaginative play, including a dragon boat play structure and rustic-looking climbing beams. There’s also an
accessible merry-go-round and splash area. You’ll find this playground at 8 Waterhouse Street in Cambridge.
Although the castle setup at this playground is appealing, the push and ride-on toys are what makes this such a popular spot for younger kids. It’s located at 2P Brewer Street in Jamaica Plain.
Get ready to throw your arms in the air and whoop as you zip down one of this park’s looooong slides nestled in the hillside. There are also two play structures, swings, and plenty of space to run around. This recreational complex includes sports fields, a community garden, and you can even admire the Boston skyline from the hill. Robbins Farm Park is located at 51 Eastern Avenue in Arlington.
Located at 160 Florence Street in Roslindale, this playground offers 13,000 square feet of play space. This includes an obstacle course, musical toys, and water elements. The playground is attached to sports field facilities.
With its gorgeous setting, the Esplanade is a beloved recreation area for all Bostonians and this playground near the Hatch Shell is an ideal spot for kids. Enjoy fun hours clambering through the web, zip lining, and spinning!
Two separate play areas ensure that older and younger children have equipment tailored to their age. A toddler zone features swings, slides, and climbing structures, while the second area offers swings, a fire pole, and monkey bars. Stoneman Playground is also part of the Esplanade and is located between Fairfield and Massachusetts Avenue.
Franklin Park offers three playgrounds. The X-wave (in the first photo) has to be the coolest piece of play equipment on offer – or maybe it’s the zip line. With so many options for fun, it can be hard to choose.
There’s a designated play area for younger kids – the Tiffany Moore Tot Lot. Once you’ve visited the playground, green space stretches out all around, just waiting to be explored.
Waterfront location? Check. Plenty of room for adventure? Check. Whether your kids want to play basketball, take advantage of the spray features, or explore the play equipment, they can have a blast at this beautifully laid out park, located off Sumner Street in East Boston.
Bright colors, an elaborate jungle gym, and accessible play equipment await kids at this inclusive park. This newer playground in Charlestown affords water and skyline views. It’s located at 98 16th Street in Boston.
What Boston area playground do you like best? Let us know in the comments.
On November 23, 1849, the "crime of the century" took place in Boston when Dr. George Parkman was murdered and his corpse dismembered. At the time, the case dominated the headlines because of the social status of the victim and accused murderer, as well as some gruesome aspects of the case.
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Media outlets across the world shared the gory details and the trial attracted a crowd of 60,000 people, rotating through the courtroom for an allocated number of minutes as if it was a theme park attraction.
The crime didn't actually occur in the place that's rumored to be haunted. Nonetheless, the victim's restless spirit supposedly remained at the Parkman House (33 Beacon Street) after his death.
A bizarre event that took place here precisely 150 years after Dr. Parkman's murder, convinced some that paranormal activity was at play. To understand the event's significance, you first need to know more about the murder.
After working as a doctor for many years, Parkman became a money lender and landlord. He loaned John White Webster a sum of money and the two appeared to have been friends - both were doctors at Harvard Medical College. Webster taught chemistry there and had a laboratory in the building's basement.
Parkman grew irate after learning that Webster had used collateral for the debt owed him as collateral in a second debt to somebody else. He visited Webster in his laboratory and was never seen again.
Webster is thought to have struck Parkman on the head with his walking stick, killing him. Then, he proceeded to chop up the body and dispose of it in the privy.
Police plastered Boston with missing person flyers in an effort to locate Dr. Parkman.
The janitor at the medical school, Ephraim Littlefield, became suspicious of Webster and broke into the laboratory, where he discovered human remains in the privy. Other body parts were then found in the furnace and wedged into a blood-stained tea chest inside the lab.
Webster was arrested and the subsequent trial was a huge spectacle. This was one of the first times that forensic anthropology was used in a courtroom. Webster denied involvement but then later confessed. Some think Ephraim Littlefield actually murdered Parkman and framed Webster, while others believed he did it. Webster was found guilty. He was hung on August 30, 1850.
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Jump forward to 1999. The cistern of a toilet (a modern privy) broke on the third floor of the Parkman House.
Do you think it was just a coincidence that Dr. Parkman’s remains were stuffed down a toilet and that a toilet then broke exactly 150 years later in his family home, causing extensive damage? Or do you think it could have been the spirit of Dr. Parkman?
Boston’s lengthy history ensures it has more than its share of ghost stories. Discover which T station is allegedly haunted then learn about the darker side of Boston Common.
