ESPLANADE VISITOR ENTRIES

In 2015, a study by DCR and MassDOT estimated that the Esplanade welcomed 3 million annual visitors. Seeking a clearer and more up-to-date picture, the Esplanade Association, in partnership with DCR, launched a new study in 2023, installing people-counting equipment at four of the park’s ten entrances. 

This study, whose first phase concluded in January 2025, revealed that the Esplanade is an even more beloved destination than previously estimated, welcoming at least 4 million visitors each year. 

Building on these insights, counting efforts continue in 2025, as people counters have been moved to the Charlesbank area in preparation for the opening of the Smith Family Pavilion and other campus resources on the two-acre site (learn more at esplanade.org/charlesbank). The counters are helping us gauge visitation before and after the Smith Family Pavilion opens, providing a baseline for understanding how this new space contributes to park use over time.

Between February and September 2025 we counted over 1.4 million visitors. Please note Blossom St Footbridge closure from September until the end of the year will be logged in data. We’ll continue to count visitation before and after Smith Family Pavilion at Charlesbank opens.

With these findings, the Esplanade Association gained deeper insight into visitor trends, helping us advocate for future improvements and ensuring the park continues to thrive as a shared space for all.

Esplanade Visitor Insights (2024)

All Locations MASS AVE FIEDLER FANNY APPLETON BLOSSOM

ALL LOCATIONS

Total Annual Visitors
Jan 1, 2024 through Dec 31, 2024

Visitor Access: On Foot vs. On Wheels (2024)

Animated green circular infographic cycling through photos of four different bridges. Each frame shows people accessing the bridges on foot, including walking dogs, running, walking independently, and walking with a cane or with children. Visitor counts appear alongside simple icons.
Animated blue circular infographic cycling through photos of four different bridges. Each frame shows people using wheeled mobility or devices, including people using wheelchairs, people riding bicycles, skateboards, or rollerblades, and people pushing strollers. Visitor counts appear alongside simple icons.

To learn more about our pathway safety and visitor data initiatives, visit our Pathways Projects webpage or contact Brenda Hernandez, Project Coordinator at bhernandez@esplanade.org. For visitor data inquiries, Molly Ryan, Volunteer & Engagement Coordinator, at mryan@esplanade.org

If you would like to support our ongoing projects, you can do so at Esplanade.org/donate or contact Jim Diverio, Director of Development, at jdiverio@esplanade.org.