Private developers deliberately obscure the lines between public and private space along Boston’s waterfront – with the goal to make the general public feel unwelcome – even though we all have the legal right to access much of our waterfront lands. It’s time for private developers to become part of the solution to create a vibrant and welcoming Boston Harbor for all.
Communities of color and those with low incomes not only deserve to enjoy waterfront open spaces for recreation and exercise – it’s also their right by law. And yet, through neglect and outright refusal by corporate interests, too many do not have the chance to run, walk, or even stretch near the water. We can and must do better.
Last year, you took action to oppose a proposed bill that would have threatened public access to Boston’s waterfront and set a dangerous precedent for waterfront areas statewide. That bill died in the legislature last session but has since been revived and is up for debate by a key legislative committee next week. So now… Continue reading Revived Bill Threatens Waterfront Public Access in Massachusetts
We’ve put together a list of projects and properties that will play the biggest role in shaping Boston’s future. As developers look to waterfront areas beyond the Seaport, we can both protect public access while also creating more open space, parks, and green space to help the region manage the impacts of climate change. And we can create more diverse neighborhoods with quality affordable housing, good transportation options, and amenities for all.
UPDATE: As we head into the Labor Day weekend, Florida is preparing for Hurricane Dorian – which could strengthen to a category four storm by Monday. While we call our loved ones down South with reminders to stay safe, it’s also time to revisit whether or not New England is ready for extreme weather. Our… Continue reading Is New England Ready for a Hurricane Harvey?
CLF’s annual Pitch a Blanket event shows how much people around Boston care about protecting public access to the waterfront. They also give people the chance to express their shared frustration about privatization of waterfront spaces and poor public access. This combination of factors has made the waterfront feel unwelcoming to many but the wealthy.
Boston is a quickly growing city, but not everyone is benefitting from that growth, especially along the waterfront. That’s why we’re inviting people to celebrate our public spaces on the waterfront – and our public right to access them.
Two bills introduced in the Massachusetts legislature this session could lead the way for the rest of New England to adapt to our new climate reality.
At CLF, we ask ourselves every day, “Are our communities ready for climate change?” When it comes to public waterfront access in Massachusetts, the answer is a resounding no. Waterfront parks and open spaces, including parts of the iconic Harborwalk, are already flooding during high tides and Nor’easters. Increasing sea level rise, along with more… Continue reading Climate Change Putting Waterfront Access in Massachusetts at Risk
Boston has no time left to waste in addressing the threat of climate change. Last winter, we experienced massive flooding in the Seaport not once but twice, and we know that more dangerous storms and rising tides are in our future. That’s why Conservation Law Foundation is applauding a plan by Mayor Marty Walsh to… Continue reading Planning, Investment, and Action Must Go Hand in Hand to Protect Boston
