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Happy Independence Day, Boston! Photo by @jackdarylphotography
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Mayor Michelle Wu and The Skating Club of Boston are pleased to welcome children and their caregivers to kick off the 2026 summer wading season as the Boston Common Frog Pond spray pool reopens,
today, Wednesday, July 1st.
The event will include an exciting celebration at 11 a.m. followed by the opening of the spray pool. In addition to activities from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., residents can enjoy tasty treats and a visit from official mascot Frog Pond Freddie.
The Frog Pond spray pool is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Labor Day. The facility is managed by The Skating Club of Boston and staffed by youth workers from the Boston Youth Fund. Learn more
here! |
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Looking for ways to make the most of summer in Boston? The Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s Summer Guide is your go-to resource for free events, fitness classes, concerts, movies, arts programs, and activities for all ages taking place in parks across
the city.
View the digital guide online or pick up a printed copy at our offices at 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd Floor. Guides are also available at Boston City Hall, Boston Public Library locations, and select BCYF centers while supplies last.
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The Boston Parks and Recreation Department and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) are pleased to announce the 2026 Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. The series offers 25 free weekly classes both
virtually and in City of Boston parks from May 3 to August 29, 2026.
Learn more at boston.gov/fitness! |
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Join us in parks citywide for films under the night skies with the popular Movie Nights series! The Park's Movie Nights are part of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s ParkARTS program. Held in August, the shows begin at dusk.
Free popcorn will be provided while supplies last. Movies will have the closed captions visible on-screen where available.
Learn more about event dates and locations
here! |
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Cool off and have some fun at a splash pad near you. View our map at boston.gov/splash to
explore locations and find hourly updates.
Thank you to our hardworking maintenance and trades crews for getting these water features up and running, and to our planning and research group for making it easier than ever to find what’s open and accessible near you. |
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Grab a picnic blanket and some friends and join us for outdoor concerts in the park this summer!
The Boston Parks and Recreation Department is proud to announce the 2026 ParkARTS Citywide Neighborhood Concert Series. The series, which is made possible by Bank of America runs from
July 8th to August 3rd in parks across the city.
Learn more here! |
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What can a burying ground tell us about a neighborhood? It can actually tell us more than you might think! Join us to explore 400 years of Boston history on a walking tour of the Dorchester North Burying Ground, one of the city's oldest and most significant
historic cemeteries this July 18th.
We will be offering three free tours where you can discover exceptional gravestone art, learn about the Salem witch trials, slavery in New England, epidemics, and the everyday experiences of the people who lived and died here over three centuries. Through
both famous figures and often-overlooked individuals, this tour reveals how a single historic burying ground can tell the story of an entire community. Sign up now
here!
This tour is offered in collaboration with
the
City of Boston's Historic Burying Grounds Initiative. |
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Enjoy live music on summer nights at one of the City's golf course patios.
The Golf Course Summer Concert Series is part of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s ParkARTS program. Held on Wednesday's in July and August, shows begin at 6 p.m. and are held at one of two golf courses: William J. Devine Golf Clubhouse or George
Wright Golf Clubhouse.
Learn more here! |
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We are so excited to announce that we are hosting Sunset Concerts at Symphony Park this July. Make sure to show up with friends, a snack, and a smile on your face for our amazing performers!
Sunset Concerts at Symphony Park feature Berklee musicians in one of Boston's most charming outdoor spaces, located between Berklee College of Music and Symphony Hall. This annual series is brought to you by Berklee College of Music, Fenway Civic Association,
Friends of Symphony Park, and the City of Boston.
Learn more here! |
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Registration is open! This year’s tournament will take place on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the beautiful George Wright Golf Course in Hyde Park. Join us for a memorable day on the green, complete with 18 holes of golf, on-course contests, and a post-tournament
luncheon. All proceeds support free youth programming through the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, helping create opportunities for young people across the city.
Last year’s tournament sold out, so we strongly encourage you to register early and secure your spot.
Register
here and learn more at boston.gov/putting-parks! |
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The Boston Parks and Recreation Department is excited to announce registration is now available for the 2026 Summer Sports Clinic, kicking off this July.
The Summer Sports Clinics will begin on July 6, 2026, and run Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Carter Playground. These free weekly sports clinics are open to Boston youth ages 8-14 and will feature popular sports each week.
Sign
up now! |
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Looking for a free, fun activity to enjoy with the kids? Join us this summer for one of our arts and crafts workshops hosted by a local artist in various parks throughout the City of Boston.
Our arts and crafts workshops are led by local artists. They're held Tuesday through Friday in July and August and run from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. These drop-in workshops encourage kids to explore their creativity through projects like mask making, crayon art,
watercolor and much more. Supplies are provided, but you'll need to bring your creativity!
This series is completely free and open to Boston residents. These workshops will take place in various parks throughout the City of Boston.
Registration is encouraged, learn more here! |
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Join us for STEM and Youth Preparedness Workshops on Mondays throughout July and August. Led by a Boston Public Schools teacher and staff from the City of Boston Office of Emergency Management, these hands-on workshops combine interactive STEM activities with
lessons on emergency preparedness, including how to recognize hazards and prepare for emergencies.
Learn
more. |
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We hosted the Mayor's Cup Softball Tournament at Clemente Field in Fenway! We had 3 divisions in this competition: 10U, 12U, and 18U. Join us in congratulating your 2026 Mayor’s Cup Softball Champions:
🥇 10U: Charlestown Softball
🥇 12U: Dorchester Travel Softball
🥇 18U: The BASE Softball
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Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department today announced the launch of the 30th annual Mayor’s Garden Contest, celebrating the creativity and dedication of Boston’s urban gardeners. The contest recognizes residents who help beautify
neighborhoods through their flowers, trees, shrubs, and landscaping efforts, making Boston a more vibrant, green, and welcoming city.
Gardeners have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8 to
submit
their entries. |
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Created in honor of Latin music icon Tito Puente, this series celebrates years of bringing live Latin music with a strong salsa influence to Boston parks. The series is sponsored in part by Berklee College of Music and Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción. Free salsa
lessons will be led by MetaMovements at select concerts.
Throughout July and August, parks across Boston will feature concerts starting at 7 p.m. All locations are wheelchair accessible. In the event of inclement weather, all concerts will be canceled with no rain dates.
Learn more about the scheduling and groups performing
here! |
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Join a guided Nature Walk led by a Boston Park Ranger, and explore Jamaica Pond and its inhabitants. Discover local wildlife, plant life, and the history that shaped our parks into what we enjoy today! It's a perfect way to slow down and connect with nature
this Summer.
The event will take place on July 11th from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Jamaica Pond.
For more information visit the
Boston Park Rangers homepage. |
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This summer, Boston Parks and Recreation is partnering with Tenacity to host a free Summer Tennis & Reading Program! This series will serve Boston youth at over 18 city park locations, combining tennis, fitness, and reading throughout the summer. The summer
program will be running from July 6th through August 14th, serving youth ages 6 to 10 years of age from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and serving youth ages 10 to 15 years old from 1:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m..
Learn more here and
register here. |
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Experience the unique charm of Rosalita’s Marionette Puppets featuring marionettes made by professional actor-puppeteer Charlotte Anne Dore. Performances start at 11 a.m.
The event is free, but young children must be accompanied by an adult. The puppet performances are part of our arts and crafts workshops taking place on the same day from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. The event is presented by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department.
Learn more here! |
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This year, Mayor Wu and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department hosted the 29th Annual Rose Garden Party at the James P. Kelleher Rose Garden in the Back Bay Fens. This annual fundraiser donates all proceeds to the Boston Parks and Recreation ParkARTS programming, which
activates the city's green spaces by bringing free, accessible arts programming, workshops, concerts, and puppet shows to neighborhoods across Boston.
Filled with laughter, dancing, and amazing speeches from the Parks Department Commissioner: Diana Fernandez Bibeau, Mayor Wu, and the incredible woman behind the event: Tiffany Clark, this Rose Garden Party was one for the ages.
We were joined by nearly 500 attendees who brought not only amazing floral outfits and hats, but smiles and an enthusiasm for making the ParkARTS possible for the coming year. We could not be more grateful for those who were able to attend, for those who donated,
and for the chance to continue creating free, creative outlets for Boston's residents for another year!
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Volunteer with Boston Harbor Now, Boston Cares, and community partners on Saturday, July 18th from 9:30–11:30 a.m. to help clean up the park. Volunteers will assist with litter and debris removal and can also participate in a BioBlitz, a community science activity
that helps identify and document plant and animal species throughout the park. Tools, supplies, safety instructions, and refreshments will be provided.
Learn more here and
register here! |
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Upcoming Volunteering Events
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10:00 a.m. | Join us in Franklin Park to help the Urban wilds team with one of their ecological restoration projects. Sign up
here. |
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9:30 a.m. | Volunteer with Boston Harbor Now, Boston Cares, and community partners to help clean up Moakley Park. Sign up
here. |
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Boston 250 is an initiative of the City of Boston and a variety of partners and sponsors who have joined together to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution in Boston. The commemoration, made up of events, legacy projects, and brand initiatives,
showcases Boston’s true, inclusive, revolutionary spirit, with an eye towards the future.
Boston 250 is about more than history - it is be a celebration of Boston’s revolutionary, path-breaking past and present. Yes, the revolution got its start here, but so did Martin Luther King, Jr,. and Malcolm X, life saving treatments and vaccines, the first
public school, public park, and public library. That is the story of Boston we want to tell.
Learn about events and more here! |
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Check out the newest art gallery at City Hall featuring stunning photographs of Boston’s Urban Wilds by Lisa McCarty.
In this exhibit, Lisa McCarty highlights the unique environments that have been protected by the Boston Urban Wilds program, as well as the people who care for and commune with these wilds. McCarty collaborated with the Boston Parks and Recreation Department
and the Boston Environment Department to photograph nineteen Urban Wilds and numerous community outreach events over the course of two years.
Save
the date for a special gallery reception on Thursday, July 30 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. |
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5:30 p.m. | Join us at Moakley Park in South Boston for dinner, music from
DJ
Easy Flicks, yard games, and education from the Boston Parks Department about the park redevelopment. Learn more
here. |
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5:30 p.m. | Join us at Moakley Park in South Boston for dinner, music from
The
Timba Messengers, yard games, and education from the Boston Parks Department about the park redevelopment. Learn more
here. |
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5:30 p.m. | Join us at Moakley Park in South Boston for dinner, music from
The
Boston Lyric Opera, yard games, and education from the Boston Parks Department about the park redevelopment. Learn more
here. |
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Boston has recently been ranked at the top city in the U.S. for playability! 🛝
Boston earned high marks for playgrounds, park access, and amenities like splash pads. With 100% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park or open space, we're committed to ensuring everyone has access to places to play and connect.
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Ever wonder where the Boston Public Garden’s palm trees come from or where they go at the end of summer?
At the Boston Parks Greenhouse in Franklin Park, our horticulture team cares for our tropical plants year round, protecting them from New England winters before carefully transporting them to the Public Garden.
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Boston City Hall, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02201, United States
Hours
& Directions |
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