'Circle the City' Finale to Close Rose Kennedy Greenway Area to Traffic on Sunday

The 'Circle the City' series of summer street closures concludes Sunday, turning parts of State, Congress and the surface road along the Greenway into traffic-free pedestrian and bike havens.

The city's program of closing major streets off to traffic on summer Sundays comes to a close this weekend with the biggest event yet: Parts of State, Congress and the surface road along the Rose Kennedy Greenway will be car-free zones. The "Circle the City" initiative provides free outdoor fun, and is a collaboration between local organizations to connect people to parks and promote a healthy and active lifestyle. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy, the Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness, LivableStreets Alliance, Franklin Park Coalition, the City of Boston, Boston Bikes, the EPA and the Rose Kennedy Greenway launched the program on June 24, and the final event is Sunday. Sunday's event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. along the Rose …

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YOUR TURN: Where Would You Put Recycling Bins in Jamaica Plain?

Where would recycling bins do the most good in Jamaica Plain?

Boston's about to add 400 solar-powered recycling compactors across the city, but they won't go everywhere. City officials said the bins will go in high-traffic areas and not necessarily in residential blocks. And they won't go into parks, at least not yet, because the bins have advertising on their sides. What do you think? If you were in charge of placing these bins in the neighborhood, where would they go? Tell your neighbors in the comments below.

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Linda Burnett

11:37 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Well-thought-out, Anita. Who would know better than the folks who deal with our garbage already?   more ›

City to Add 400 Solar Compactors to Increase Recycling (But None Slated for Jamaica Plain Yet)

The city will install 400 new solar powered trash compactors to promote recycling, but they won't be in residential areas — at least not yet.

Next month, the city will install 400 new solar powered compactors to promote recycling in Boston. But chances are they won’t be anywhere near JP. Yet. The Big Belly compactors will go in "high traffic areas" such as Downtown Crossing and Fenway, but they won’t line residents’ streets – at least not at first. It's also likely they'll be kept out of public parks due to the advertisements on the cans, which is part of a bartering agreement that allows the city to have the barrels for free. "How do we expand this into the neighborhoods?" At-Large City Councilor Felix Arroyo asked during a public hearing on Tuesday.  "I think everybody knows where the Big Bellies will end up." Arroyo is a JP resident.   A big step toward city-wide single …

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And Jamaica Plain's Hidden Gem Is...

Nira Rock! In addition to this contest result, readers revealed some of the neighborhood's best (but little known) features.

Nira Rock, the little-known but well-loved urban wild, is our Best of Patch Readers' Choice for Hidden Gem of JP. The area was once overgrown and had a dangerous reputation. But with the love of residents like the Friends of Nira Rock, it has been transformed into a very special place for rock climbing, picnics or just reducing one's nature deficit here in the city. But the contest isn't just about naming a winner. Reader discussion highlighted other "hidden gems" that weren't nominated for the contest. For instance, there's the Minton Stables Community Garden and the Curley House. Our contest for next week looks forward to Memorial Day barbecues and asks, "Where Do You Get Grillables"? JP is blessed with several meat markets for our size…

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Rescue League Helps Red Tailed Hawk That Broke Its Wing

The injured animal was found in a backyard near the Arboretum, according to Universal Hub.

The Animal Rescue League is helping an injured hawk, which was found with a broken wing in a JP backyard near the Arboretum, according to Universal Hub. The red tailed hawk was also wound up in fishing line. The Animal Rescue League publicizes its rescues via its Twitter account. The red tailed hawk is the most common local hawk, and can often be seen in area parks or soaring above the neighborhood.

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What's On Your Dream Esplanade? A Ferris Wheel? Leave It As Is?

The Esplanade Association thinks a ferris wheel could be one way to improve the park. What are your big ideas?

Recently The Esplanade Association presented one possible vision of the Esplanade of the future, a vision which could include redesigning Storrow Drive, dismantling the Bowker overpass, and installing a ferris wheel reminiscent of the London Eye.   In Patch coverage of the vision's unveiling, the Esplanade Association's executive director, Sylvia Salas, explained that, "This is a vision. These are a group of ideas. This is not a proposal, this is not a plan."   The Association also showed a video of their concepts, and, after the segment on the ferris wheel ended, the voiceover asked, "Anyone got a better idea?" And while the Esplanade isn't in JP, it's a Boston treasure, one that all of us have visited. So, JP residents, we ask, "What …

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Growing Greener

Our Urban Forest

Growing Boston Even Greener: the stewards of Boston's trees need you.

There is a story in the Talmud of Honi, a wise man. One day he was out walking when he saw a man planting carob tree seeds. Honi asked the man, “How long will it take before you can eat the fruit of these trees?”  “Seventy years,” was the answer.  Honi smiled. “And you think that you are going to live long enough to harvest that fruit?” The man sat back from his work for a moment. “Probably not. But all my life I have harvested fruit from carob trees that were planted by my grandfather and my father. Now I am planting seeds so that my children and grandchildren will have trees.” The urban forest of Boston -- the trees and shrubs that make up 29 percent of our city -- was largely planted by our fathers and grandfathers. Trees are among the …

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Chris Helms

7:04 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012

Hi Lisa, others have noticed too. I called the Cemetery and they say it's because of the wooly adelgid, which has infected many of the trees. I'm hoping to do a post about it soon. If you have more details, please email me at chrish@patch.com.   more ›

VIDEO: Jamaica Plain's Pocket Parks

A look at some of JP's less-known urban refuges, both on and off the beaten path

Jamaica Plain is indeed fortunate to have abundant green spaces.  As a major link in the Emerald Necklace, Franklin Park, Jamaica Pond, the Arnold Arboretum, as well as the Southwest Corridor Park, it's nearly guaranteed that though Bostonians we may be, we’re never too far removed from the natural world.  Less known are the many “pocket parks,” some no bigger than a building lot, that dot our verdant neighborhood.  While they’re not exactly secret gardens, like me, you too may be surprised by the existence of some of these urban refuges, both on and off JP’s beaten path.

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VIDEO: Venture Out to the Arnold Arboretum

Do you take one of JP's jewels for granted? See what you're missing in this quick video.

Sometimes it's easy not to appreciate what you've got in your own backyard. If you take the Arnold Arboretum for granted, or keep walking or driving past and not enjoying it, take a look at what you're missing in this quick video.

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Patch Passport

Venture Out: Natural Refuge Just 30 Minutes Away from JP

Enjoy the serene scenes of nearby Hammond Pond.

Ever wonder what that body of water is behind the parking lot at The Chestnut Hill Shopping Center? It's one of Newton's hidden gems: Hammond Pond, and it's a short drive from JP. With the towering retail businesses and busy Route 9 nearby, most people may not pay attention to modest pond and trails behind the shopping center. The recreation area offers scenic views of the pond and wooded trails around the water. Some locals enjoy the area for walking their dogs, cooling off under the shade of a tree or trying to catch a bite on a quick fishing trip. 

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