Emerald Necklace Conservancy

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy is a private nonprofit that maintains, restores and protects the Emerald Necklace, Boston’s 1,100-acre chain of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The parks stretch about seven miles through the city and Brookline, linking landscapes such as the Back Bay Fens, Jamaica Pond, Arnold Arboretum and Franklin Park. Guided by Olmsted’s belief that green space is a basic right, the Conservancy keeps the parks open to everyone, every day.

Its work covers pathway upkeep, annual tree canopy pruning, waterway restoration, invasive plant removal and pollinator habitat conservation, as well as green infrastructure that cools neighborhoods and reduces flooding. The Conservancy brings public and private partners together to fund restoration projects and advocates for the communities around the parks. It also runs seasonal events, volunteer stewardship days and programs such as family-friendly bike rides in Franklin Park and a springtime celebration.

What to Know

• The Olmsted Tree Society funds new tree plantings across the park system.
• Park Advisors working groups meet about six times a year on access, education and restoration.
• The Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
• It formally acknowledges the region as ancestral land of the Massachusett, Pawtucket, Wampanoag and Nipmuc peoples.