The Esplanade Association https://esplanade.org/esplanade-association/ Historic Charles River Esplanade Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:32:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://esplanade.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/cropped-EA-Leaves-32x32.png The Esplanade Association https://esplanade.org/esplanade-association/ 32 32 Annual Meeting https://esplanade.org/annual-meeting/ Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:37:14 +0000 https://esplanade.org/?p=17444 The post Annual Meeting appeared first on The Esplanade Association.

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Annual Meeting 2026

Register now for the Esplanade Association’s 25th Anniversary Annual Meeting!

April 15th, 2025 

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

(This event will be held on Zoom) 

Register here!
This year’s meeting will feature: 


Stephanie Fletcher

Special guest: Stephanie Fletcher presenting on “25 Species for 25 Years”, highlighting 25 animal species that call the Esplanade home and her biodiversity work using the iNaturalist app. 


Stephanie has had a lifelong love for nature. From a young age, she was observing insects, adopting and raising orphaned wildlife, and smelling any flower within reach. She graduated with a degree in Economics and a minor in Business Management from Syracuse University, then worked as a Sales Manager for Bloomberg’s multimedia and equity trading division in New York for 10 years.

In 2003, she became a full-time mother and dedicated volunteer for educational and nature-focused non-profits like the Learning Project and Mass Audubon. She is heavily involved with many local green space organizations, like the Esplanade Association, the Garden Club of the Back Bay, and the Friends of the Public Garden. In 2025, she became a Certified Field Naturalist through Mass Audubon and a Certified Pollinator Steward through UMass Amherst. Her discovery of the first Joro Spider in New England was featured in Scott Loarie’s TEDx Boston talk on the power of using iNaturalist as a tool to discover and log biodiversity for scientific study.

Jen Mergel, EA’s James and Audrey Foster Executive Director 

Sharing 2025 highlights and achievements as well as a sneak peek at our 25th Anniversary activities and programs. She will also give an update on the construction progress on the Charles River Esplanade’s Smith Family Pavilion and Charlesbank campus, and news on its forthcoming opening late in 2026. 

Agenda

  • Welcome and appreciation: 25th anniversary reflections
  • Executive Director Report and Annual Business
  • Guest Speaker: Stephanie Fletcher, “25 Species for 25 Years”
  • Q&A

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]]> Little Green Words https://esplanade.org/littlegreenwords/ Thu, 05 Feb 2026 14:32:38 +0000 https://esplanade.org/?p=17294 The post Little Green Words appeared first on The Esplanade Association.

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Little Green Words

Each month, we’ll explore an environmental word or concept, from biodiversity to watershed, and discover why it matters right here along the Charles River Esplanade.
You’ll find a simple explanation, fun facts, and hands-on activities that families can enjoy together, whether you’re exploring our park, your backyard, or even your kitchen.

This month’s Little Green Word is: Sustainability!

Sustainability: Making choices today that protect the Earth so that people, animals, and plants have what they need to live happily and healthily in the future climate.

DOWNLOAD ACTIVITIES BELOW!

TRASH OR RECYCLING ACTIVITY BUILD YOUR OWN PLANTER

PREVIOUS ACTIVITIES

Word of the Month: Esplanade!

Esplanade: a long, open, level area, typically beside the water, along which people may walk for pleasure.

ESPLANADE WORD SEARCH

DESIGN YOUR OWN ESPLANADE

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]]> Rooted in Memory https://esplanade.org/rooted/ Thu, 22 Jan 2026 21:21:23 +0000 https://esplanade.org/?p=17217 The post Rooted in Memory appeared first on The Esplanade Association.

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Rooted in Memory by Illuminus

About Rooted in Memory

UPDATE! New Dates Announced!

After an unexpected snowy winter, we are pleased to announce that Rooted in Memory, a commission created by Stories & Spaces and produced by Illuminus, is coming to the Charles River Esplanade! This series of site-specific installations among riverfront trees will utilize projection mapping and spatial audio to animate our memories and relationships with the trees, our environment, and each other.

EVENT DETAILS:

DATES:
  • Sunday, May 3rd
  • Monday, May 4th
  • Tuesday, May 5th
  • Wednesday, May 6th
    TIME:
    • 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM
    • The light installation will begin around 8:30 PM, preceded by a live artistic offering to set the tone for the night. Arrive early to take in the full experience. Enjoy free non-alcoholic refreshments as you experience the art.
    LOCATION:
    • Eliot Memorial Garden (21 David G Mugar Way, Boston, MA 02114, USA)
    SIGN UP HERE!

    Please note that the location and details are subject to change due to weather, so please follow us for updates by registering or following us!

    The public is invited to record and contribute their memories of nature on a guided wander through the Esplanade, which will be integrated into the final installations.

    SUBMIT YOUR MEMORIES

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    ]]> Sponsor A Tree Page https://esplanade.org/sponsor-a-tree/ Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:10:07 +0000 https://esplanade.org/?p=16064 The post Sponsor A Tree Page appeared first on The Esplanade Association.

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    Sponsor Esplanade Trees



    By sponsoring a new or existing tree, you are enhancing care of the entire Esplanades 1900 tree canopy. You can designate a gift of any size to this annual need. All donations directly, and immediately, support the planting of new trees and the pruning, watering, and soil improvement of the oldest planted (some more than a century ago!) Gifts at $2500 (for an existing tree) or $10,000 (to plant and steward a new tree over a decade) also include a customizable dedication plaque.


    Sponsor a tree


    Read about Rob Gronkowski’s dedication of an Esplanade elm in the Gronk Playground in this press release.


    Susan Hurley and Rob Gronkowski posing in front of a donated tree for Susan. Photo by Melissa Ostrow, MelOPhoto.


    Read about Susan Hurley’s Impact here

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    ]]> The Giving Park https://esplanade.org/givingpark/ Wed, 25 Oct 2023 17:31:11 +0000 https://esplanade.org/?p=13099 The post The Giving Park appeared first on The Esplanade Association.

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    The Giving Park 


    Created by Ian and Ian 

    Narrated by Christopher Wilkins, Music Director of Boston Landmarks Orchestra 

    Since 2001, the Esplanade Association has enhanced, maintained, and revitalized the Charles River Esplanade thanks to supporters like you!

    Learn more about us and current projects/capital improvements to see what we have accomplished with your help.    

    Give Today

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    ]]> TEAM ESPLANADE & The Boston Marathon https://esplanade.org/bostonmarathon/ Mon, 12 Sep 2022 14:57:34 +0000 http://4e2e0d2ff8.nxcli.io/?p=10189 The post TEAM ESPLANADE & The Boston Marathon appeared first on The Esplanade Association.

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    Support TEAM ESPLANADE in the 130th Bank of America The Boston Marathon® on April 20th, 2026


    Help TEAM ESPLANADE cross the finish line!

    We are excited to be a part of the 2026 Boston Athletic Association’s Bank of America Boston Marathon® Official Charity Program for the 130th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America. 



    Why Run with TEAM ESPLANADE?



    The Esplanade Association is a community-supported nonprofit organization that works to revitalize, enhance, program, and maintain the Charles River Esplanade. By running on TEAM ESPLANADE you will be supporting:

    • HORTICULTURE: Caring for a lush canopy of trees, maintaining beautiful gardens, and leading 2,000 volunteers a year who help care for the park
    • ARTS & CULTURE: Commissioning public art, including the Hatched light and sound show in Winter 2021, three murals in 2019, and showcasing local musical acts on the Hatch Shell Stage
    • HEALTH & FITNESS: Hosting seasonal 5Ks and dozens of free fitness classes, jointly caring for the Teddy Ebersol’s Red Sox Fields
    • CHILDREN & FAMILIES: Building & maintaining three Esplanade playgrounds, hosting free field days for local summer camps, and hosting family-friendly events, tours, and scavenger hunts
    • PARK ENHANCEMENTS: Installing welcome signs with mileage maps, rehabbing historic monuments and park elements, and partnering to bring the popular Owl’s Nest beer garden to the park (a great place for a post-run refreshment!)


      TEAM ESPLANADE Benefits



      • Race day VIP bus to the start line
      • Team Marathon gear, including race singlet 
      • Finish Line rendezvous and storage in our Copley Office 
      • A fun and positive life-changing experience of running the 2026 Boston Marathon with Team Esplanade 

      Coaching and a personalized training program:

      • Organized point to point long runs on the course with aid station support
      • Full and personalized 20-week training plan for every level of running by RRCA certified coaches with organized group runs throughout the season starting in December.
      • Runners will receive professional training support through CharityTeams.com
      • Boundless team spirit, excellent organization, and runner support.

      Exclusive Esplanade Perks:

      • Branded Esplanade Association merch
      • 50 bulbs will be planted in the park in your honor
      • Recognition in our next Annual Report
      • The opportunity to build meaningful relationships with EA staff, your fellow runners, and others

      Fundraising and Marketing Assistance:

      • Esplanade Association-hosted group fundraising event
      • The Esplanade Association accepts matching gifts towards your fundraising goal
      • A personal fundraising page on GivenGain
      • Social media sharing to broaden your audience
      • Marketing support for runner-hosted fundraising events
      • Fundraising and marketing tips and tricks
      • Runners will receive professional fundraising support


      TEAM ESPLANADE Commitment



      • Runners without a qualifying time:
        • If selected on our team, you must pay a $100 team fee upon acceptance to secure your spot. This does not apply to your fundraising commitment.
        • Commit to raising $12,000 USD
        • Pay a $375 race entry fee to the Boston Athletic Association in January. 
      • Runners with a qualifying time or a bib:
        • If selected on our team, pay a $100 team fee. This does not apply to your fundraising commitment. 
        • Commit to raising $3,000 USD
      • Represent the Esplanade Association with energy and enthusiasm for our mission!
      • Abide by all terms and conditions required by the B.A.A. for participation in the Bank of America Boston Marathon®
      • Submit a timely B.A.A. Marathon Registration and pay B.A.A. Registration Fee by the given deadline
      • More details on the runner commitment can be viewed on our application, apply today!

            All spots on TEAM ESPLANADE have been filled, but you can join our waitlist to be notified should any bibs become available. 


            Join the waitlist!

            Please feel free to contact our Team Manager Analisa Spina at marathon@esplanade.org with any questions about recruitment or ways to support the team!




            Resources for Runners


            Charles River Running Map

            Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.)

            B.A.A. Official Charity Program 



            Support Provided By 





            Help TEAM ESPLANADE cross the finish line!

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