TONIGHT ON CHRONICLE.
ANTHONY: WILSONIAN’S HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE NATURE.
-- BOSTONIANS HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE NATURE.
IT IS A MAJOR MILESTONE BOSTON MARKED IN 2018, BECOMING ONLY THE SECOND MAJOR U.S. CITY TO DO SO.
>> I WILL LET YOU LEAD THE WAY.
ANTHONY: SOME OF BOSTON’S PARKS LIKE SHARON STREET WOODS IN HYDE PARK ARE PART OF A CITY PROGRAM CALLED URBAN WILDS.
>> IT REPRESENTS NATURAL AREAS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
THESE ARE AS SMALL AS ONE OR TWO ACRES UP TO 100 ACRES.
ANTHONY: THE PROGRAMS MANAGER.
>> THE IMPORTANT THING IS THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE, THEY ARE AREAS PEOPLE CAN GO TO WALK, JOG, OBSERVE NATURE OR RELAX AND SEEK SOLIS.
THAT IS IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY NOW.
ANTHONY: SHARON STREET WOODS IS ONE OF 30 CITY SITES ACQUIRED OVER THE LAST HALF-CENTURY AND MORE RECENTLY REHABILITATED WITH A MIX OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS.
>> WE CAN’T TOWARD THIS AREA -- CONTOURED THIS AREA INTO THE SHAPE OF A MEADOW.
ANTHONY: THERE IS A ROCKCLIMBING STATION AND A SCENIC OVERLOOK.
WHY IN THE MIDST OF THIS PANDEMIC DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS KIND OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS?
>> THERE IS A STRONG LINK WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH BEING IN NATURE.
DURING THE OUTBREAK WE HAVE SEEN HIGHER VISITATION AT THESE SITES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THEY ARE GREAT BECAUSE SOME OF THE FORMAL PARKS ARE CROWDED, BUT THESE HAVE GIVEN PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE OTHER AREAS THAT ARE LESS MANICURED BUT VERY PEACEFUL AND BEAUTIFUL.
ANTHONY: THE CITY IS TRYING TO ATTRACT MORE NEIGHBORS WITH INVITING INTEREST US -- ENTRANCES, IMPROVED SIGHTLINES IN AND OUT AND GENTLE TERRAIN.
IT IS NOT JUST HUMANS WHO BENEFIT.
URBAN WILDS ARE HOME TO ANIMALS AND NATIVE PLANTS THAT HELP PRESERVE THE ECOSYSTEM BY STORING FLOODWATER, PRODUCING OXYGEN AND FILTERING STORM WATER.
>> COMING OUT AND EXPLORE, PEOPLE DON’T HAVE TO PAY FEES.
THEY CAN WALK DOWN THE STREET AND HERE YOU ARE IN YOUR BACKYARD.
ANTHONY: IF YOU PREFER PATHS PAVED, THERE ARE 36 MILES TO CHOOSE FROM IN THE BOSTON METRO AREA.
>> MR. BAXTER HAD THIS VISION IN THE LATE 1800S WITH REGARDS TO THE CHARLES.
THEY REALIZED QUICKLY IT WAS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE HE NOTED TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE AND GET THEM OUTDOORS.
SHAYNA: SHE IS THE PLANNER.
>> GREENWAYS CAN BE DEFINED AS LINEAR CORRIDORS WHICH PROTECT CULTURAL RESOURCES, NATURAL RESOURCES AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES.
ANTHONY: ONE OF THEMANTHONY:, THE NEPONSET RIVER GREENWAY, IS A SEVEN MILE STRETCH FROM HYDE PARK TO DO ANY OF BEACH -- TENNEY AND BEACH IN DORCHESTER.
>> IT IS SEVERAL COMMUNITIES.
EVEN QUINCY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER.
IT GIVES ALL OF THESE PEOPLE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
THEY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER IN A WAY THEY WOULD NOT HAVE.
ANTHONY: IT HAS TAKEN DECADES TO ACQUIRE THE LAND AND CONNECT AND THE STATE HOPES TO CONTINUE, EVENTUALLY LINKING THE NEPONSET TO THE CHARLES AND THE MYSTIC.
>> THE REMAINING CONNECTIONS ARE REALLY DIFFICULT AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO BUILD.
ANTHONY: UNTIL THEN, THERE IS PLENTY OF PATH ON WHICH TO WALK, RUN OR RACE.
>> THEY ARE ALL ADA COMPLIANT AND THEY ARE WIDE ENOUGH SO A FAMILY CAN GO FOR A BIKE RIDE AND FEEL SAFE.
ANTHONY: THERE ARE RULES OF THE ROAD EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE OFF ROAD.
>> WE ALL GO ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD, KEEP RIGHT AND CROSS LEFT.
YOU SHOULD BE AWARE.
PEOPLE LIKE TO PUT YOUR BOOKS ON.
I WOULD SUGGEST LIKE TO PUT EAR BUDS ON.
I WOULD SUGGEST ONE OFF.
ANTHONY: THERE IS A BOAT LAUNCH WERE KAYAKERS AND SHADY TREES.
>> WE KNOW NATURE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DOES A LOT FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND GENERAL WELL-BEING.
ANTHONY: A NATURAL SOURCE OF SERENITY TO SHARE.
>> THESE ARE MIGRATION ROUTES FOR BIRDS.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE DEAR FROM THE BLUE HILLS.
THESE PROVIDE HABITAT AND CONNECTIVITY FOR WILDLIFE AS WELL.
THE DIVERSITY OF THE LANDSCAPE IS CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR US TO PROTECT.
SHAYNA: AND IF YOU’D RATHER BEACH IT THAN BIKE IT, THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPTIONS.
THE STATE’S DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION ALSO MANAGES SEVEN BEACHES IN BOSTON.
AND IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO EXPLORE ALL THE CITY PARKS IN BOSTON, THERE’S A FUN GAME FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO PLAY, PARKS BINGO.
JUST GO TO THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR SHEET AND START PLAYING.
COMING UP, AFTER A STORE FRONT WAS VANDALIZED, DESTRUCTION