Southwest Corridor Park

The Southwest Corridor Park is a 4.1-mile linear park stretching from the Back Bay to Forest Hills, linking the South End, Back Bay, Roxbury and Jamaica Plain with a street-level greenway. It runs alongside the MBTA Orange Line, and its paths are used by walkers, runners, cyclists and commuters heading between neighborhoods. Gardens and lawns line much of the route, giving dense neighborhoods a long ribbon of green space.

The park was created on land originally cleared for a planned highway that was canceled after community opposition, with the Orange Line relocated into the corridor when it opened in the late 1980s. Recreation is spread along its length, including 11 playgrounds, two spray pools, seven basketball courts, five tennis courts, two street hockey rinks and two amphitheaters, with about six miles of trails. Festivals, performances and community events also use the space.

What to Know

• The park is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
• Separate paths for walking and cycling run along much of the corridor.
• It is listed by Egleston Square Main Street as a festival and special event site.