What's New
The Boston Harbor Association, along with the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the Boston Conservation Commission, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, continues to work with property owners to bring new HarborWalk segments on line as quickly as possible. Nearly 39 miles of the 47-mile HarborWalk public access system is now completed, with the remainder to open as waterfront development moves forward. In late 2008 and during 2009, the following new segments have opened to the public, with a variety of public amenities:
North End
Battery Wharf:A new HarborWalk segment at Battery Wharf on the North End waterfront is fast becoming one of the most popular on the waterfront. Opened in 2009, it features a pocket maritime museum, a 24-hour, second-floor observation deck, a new water transportation pavilion, and an enhanced HarborWalk with interpretive signage, free binoculars, outside terrace dining, and free public rest rooms. The Boston Harbor Association was the primary advocacy group for the construction of the public amenities, including the observation deck and the new maritime museum, which offers a 1,100-square foot exhibition space featuring fascinating maritime and Coast Guard history, during the Chapter 91 tidelands licensing process. The museum, observation deck, and rest rooms are open to the public free of charge. The new water transportation pavilion provides a very attractive waiting area for water taxi service to Logan Airport and other Harbor-side locations, and there is nearly 300 feet of dock space at the site.
Downtown
New England Aquarium HarborWalk:As part of the New England Aquarium�s new Marine Mammal Center, a new HarborWalk segment opened to the public in July 2009. The new $10 million facility is home to five fur seals (only 20 of the seals are in captivity in the world today). The entirely glass-walled, open-air pavilion that abuts the HarborWalk is complete with informational panels offering facts about the seals, and there is new public seating on the HarborWalk. In the evening, LED strips make for an interesting walk along the Aquarium�s newest HarborWalk segment. TBHA was a strong advocate for the educational signage and the improved HarborWalk.
The "Norman B. Leventhal Walk to the Sea" opened to the public in September 2008, with Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and TBHA's Vivien Li participating at the dedication. The "Norman B. Leventhal Walk to the Sea" wayfinding path begins at Beacon Hill and spans a mile to the waterfront. At eight locations along the path are viewing panels that describe and depict four centuries of Boston history, including three panels at Long Wharf which trace the dominance of Boston's 18th-century shipping industry (note the wind turbine atop one of the panels which lights the panels in the evenings). Boston native Norman B. Leventhal, for whom the path is named, has a longstanding connection to the Harbor, including development of the landmark Rowes Wharf complex, as well as the generous donation to the Boston Public Library of one of the most outstanding collections of historic maps of Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay in the world. A number of these maps can be viewed in the lobby of the Boston Harbor Hotel, and others are on display at the Boston Public Library. For more information on the "Norman B. Leventhal Walk to the Sea," please visit the state-of-the-art web site Walk to the Sea.
Fort Point Channel
Russia Wharf:A small boat docking facility was recently completed on Russia Wharf with a floating walkway connection to the Water Transportation Terminal. Thanks to the building owner, Boston Properties, and its construction contractors, the existing HarborWalk along the Fort Point Channel from the Congress Street Bridge to 500 Atlantic Avenue has been open to the public throughout the construction of the Russia Wharf redevelopment. A "Topping Off" ceremony to mark the completion of steel construction occurred in September, 2009, with completion and occupancy of the building in 2011. Once the site is no longer a construction zone, Boston Properties will make the docking facility available to boaters.
Dorchester Avenue HarborWalk Along the Fort Point Channel:A new HarborWalk segment along the Fort Point Channel across from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston opened to the public Labor Day weekend, 2009. Featuring granite paving, benches, lighting, and trees, this segment is a welcomed connection between the 245 Summer Street and Russia Wharf HarborWalk segments. Additional tree plantings will be completed late fall, 2009. This new HarborWalk segment is part of the environmental mitigation measures required of the Central Artery/Tunnel project for the Fort Point Channel area. The Boston Harbor Association, together with the Boston Shipping Association, was the intervenor in the Consolidated Written Determination proceedings which resulted in this and other public amenities along the Fort Point Channel.
470 Atlantic Avenue: As part of an administrative consent order issued by the Department of Environmental Protection, the property owner will complete by the end of October, 2009, a ground floor Maritime Historical Display Room adjacent to the HarborWalk. Available free of charge to the general public, this space includes information about the maritime history of the site, with indoor seating and an audio-visual preservation. The new ground-floor space complements the 14th floor free observation deck and free public rest rooms accessible directly from the HarborWalk.
South Boston
Fan Pier: Construction is underway on the Fan Pier as the Fallon Company undertakes a billion dollar redevelopment of the site along the South Boston waterfront.
A new office building at One Marina Park Drive is under construction, with completion in 2011. Two temporary low-rise facilities housing retail and restaurants next to the office building will open in 2010. A new, improved HarborWalk segment and new dock facility opened in 2009. These public amenities were much used and enjoyed by visitors to the Volvo Ocean race events held on the Fan Pier in April and May, 2009, as well as throughout the summer. Completion of a new Public Green next to the office building is scheduled for December, 2009.
NSTAR: Adjacent to NSTAR's K Street Electrical Substation on the Reserved Channel is one of Boston's newest and most attractive HarborWalk segments. Accessible from 1st Street near I Street in South Boston, visitors can enjoy a generous walkway with viewing areas, free pedestal-mounted binoculars, seating, interpretive signage, and landscaping. An original rail from the Transcontinental Railroad, manufactured by the Bay State Iron Works once located on the site, was added in late 2007.
An additional segment connecting HarborWalk segments on the FedEx and NSTAR properties along the Reserved Channel in South Boston opened to the public in fall, 2008. FedEx completed a new HarborWalk segment, and the HarborWalk now runs linearly along the waterfront from the FedEx entrance off Summer Street to the NSTAR entrance on East 1st Street. NSTAR received permits to construct another segment along the Reserved Channel which it hopes to complete in 2010.
Check back soon for more of what's new on Boston's HarborWalk.
