$91 Million Muddy River Restoration Project

The Muddy River: Start to Finish is a photo essay showing the Muddy River in 2012. This past fall Mayor Menino announced the start of the Muddy River Restoration Project in the Back Bay Fens. It will include “Daylighting” of the Muddy River in front of the Landmark Center. When Frederick Law Olmsted designed the park in 1879, the Muddy River flowed through this area for all to see. In 1954 the City of Boston sold this section of the park to Sears, Roebuck & Co. to make a parking lot! Now the Muddy River will be taken out of the culvert for all to see and enjoy.

The Emerald Necklace’s “chain of pleasant waters” that park designer Frederick Law Olmsted described is long gone. I walked from Jamaica Pond to the Back Bay Fens in 1979. It was not a pleasing walk, except for beautiful Jamaica Pond. Olmsted Park and the Riverway are still just plain depressing. And my 2012 photographs taken of clogged Wards Pond, Sears ex-parking lot and the missing Evans Way Footbridge are also depressing.

But there is light at the end of the River! The Charlesgate area has already been dredged of sediment. The 91 million dollar Muddy River Restoration Project will start “Daylighting” and dredging the rest of the Muddy River this year. Everyone is looking forward to seeing the new-old park!

Please see my photographs for more detailed information.

Visit  www.MuddyRiverMMOC.org for updates on the project.