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synopsis

Frederick Law Olmsted and John Charles Olmsted designed this 17-acre stretch of the Emerald Necklace (00971) between Tremont Street and Jamaica Pond in 1892. Consisting of The Upper Valley portion of the Muddy River, the area known today as Olmsted Park was originally called Leverett Park.

Frederick Law Olmsted and John Charles Olmsted designed this 17-acre stretch of the Emerald Necklace (00971) between Tremont Street and Jamaica Pond in 1892. Consisting of The Upper Valley portion of the Muddy River, the area known today as Olmsted Park was originally called Leverett Park. Writing to the chairman of the Park Commission, Olmsted wrote of the project as “A chain of picturesque fresh-water ponds, alternating with attractive natural groves and meadows.” [FLO to Charles Henry Dalton_1881-12-29_Papers of FLO-v.7-p.569]

Bordered by Brookline Avenue and Jamaica Way, a parkway that links the Emerald Necklace, the park is situated between the City of Boston and the Town of Brookline.The northern and southern parkways, respectively, provided a walk way, bridle path, and 40-foot wide carriage road. A series of three bodies of freshwater, Leverett Pond, Willow Pond, and Ward’s Pond, spanned the linear landscape leading up to Jamaica Park (00920). Paying homage to its designer, the city changed the name to Olmsted Park in 1900. See also job #00923.

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