Inaugurating the Everett Street Green Space

On Monday, June 21, residents from the Allston-Brighton community and the surrounding area gathered in a parking lot near the German International School. They were there to unveil Boston's newest green initiative. The Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) and Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation (ABCDC) worked together to create an eco-friendly community with sustainable landscaping to prevent storm water runoff and promote neighborhood beautification.

“This site represents the future of stormwater in Boston: pleasant, green, shaded and restorative of both land and water,” said Bob Zimmerman, Executive Director of CRWA. The green infrastructure system uses street trees to intercept stormwater, provide shade and improve air quality, illustrating the connection between green infrastructure, stormwater management and water quality.

Boston Mayor Tom Menino addressed the community, praising the efforts as another step in his plan to make Boston greener and more sustainable. He noted that Boston is the third greenest city in the nation, and efforts like the Everett Street Green Space will help us keep it like that. Children were gathered around the event as the mayor and others spoke to the crowd, and people were reminded that we're now creating the communities that will be passed on to our kids.

The use of rain gardens, permeable pavement and stormwater tree filter system not only improves the site aesthetically but also collects and treats polluted stormwater runoff that would otherwise flow untreated into the Charles River. The attractive green landscape includes seven new trees, a rain garden, native planting beds, and more. The vegetation helps beautify the area while creating a new community green space for the residents of Allston Brighton. This was a two-year project that was funded by the MA Dept. of Conservation & Recreation Urban Forestry Fund, the Harvard-Allston Partnership Fund, and the Boston College Neighborhood Fund.

For more details on the project, please refer to http://www.crwa.org/projects/everett_greenstreet.html