The Great Boston Harbor Islands Cleanup was a once-in-a-generation environmental restoration effort to remove and responsibly dispose of abandoned fishing gear and marine debris from five ecologically significant islands: Great Brewster, Middle Brewster, Outer Brewster, Calf, and Lovells. Led by the Center for Coastal Studies and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, with support from NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and Boston Harbor Now, the initiative mobilizes over 70 trained volunteers and hundreds of community participants for a weeklong "adventure cleanup." This project aims to restore critical wildlife habitats, protect coastal bird nesting areas, and preserve the natural, cultural, and recreational value of the Boston Harbor Islands for future generations. Photo and Video Credit: Charlie Nutting Partners: Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, Boston Harbor Now, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Center for Coastal Studies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, NOAA, and the National Park Service #BostonHarborCleanup #MarineDebris #BostonHarbor #BostonHarborIslands

Boston Harbor Now holds monthly Harbor Use Public Forums for interested stakeholders to learn about and provide feedback on waterfront developments, public planning initiatives, and other harbor projects along Boston Harbor's waterfront, on the islands, and around the region. In March 2025's Harbor Use Public Forum, learn about the Boston Water Partners' recent study on Designated Port Areas (DPAs) around Boston Harbor. Strengthening The Urban Harbor: Policy & Investment Recommendations for Boston's Working Ports provides an initial roadmap for the stewardship of Boston's working waterfront, ensuring that these vital economic assets continue to thrive while meeting adjacent communities' needs for open space and adapting to 21st-century environmental and economic needs. Alexander Meeks, Principal at HR&A, and Boston Waterfront Partner members Breanne Frank (Conservation Law Foundation), Jason Rundle (Save the Harbor Save the Bay), John Walkey (GreenRoots), and Sara McCammond (Harborfront Neighborhood Alliance) will share insights and takeaways from the study, which will then be followed by an open discussion with forum attendees. This meeting will provide attendees with an overview of DPAs in Boston and what next steps we need to take to support Boston's working waterfront to ensure it continues to support the region and local communities.

Vivien Li, the former President of The Boston Harbor Association reflects on the 25 years of her work of transforming the city's waterfront and Harborwalk public access system. At Boston Harbor Now's 2024 Onboard Awards, Vivien was saluted as the visionary who got more of today's 43 miles of Harborwalk built and opened to the public than any other single figure in its history.

Do you have an idea that brings arts, culture, science, place-making or community-building programming outdoors? Are you a community leader looking for a new outdoor venue for your event? You may be eligible for funding to make your vision a reality! Visit bostonharborislands.org/innovation-islands for more details to learn more about the Innovation Islands grant program.

Watch Kathy Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now, and Lorraine Downey, former Chair of the Harborpark Committee and one of the founders of the Harborwalk, chat in an intimate behind-the-scenes look at how the Harborwalk came to be. During this fireside chat, you'll learn more about the Harborwalk's history, how it has changed, and Kathy and Lorraine's hopes for its future. Boston Harbor Now holds monthly Harbor Use Public Forums for interested stakeholders to learn about and provide feedback on waterfront developments, public planning initiatives, and other harbor projects along Boston Harbor's waterfront, on the islands, and around the region. For more information, including opportunities to present your waterfront project or proposal at one of these meetings, please contact Kelly Sherman, Manager of Waterfront Design, at ksherman@bostonharbornow.org.

Boston Harbor Now holds monthly Harbor Use Public Forums for interested stakeholders to learn about and provide feedback on waterfront developments, public planning initiatives, and other harbor projects along Boston Harbor's waterfront, on the islands, and around the region. Learn about the Reserved Channel Development, a phased development by Oxford Properties Group and Pappas Enterprises, Inc. (collectively "OxP"), that will reimagine a 42-acre business park along the west side of the Reserved Channel. The project, characterized by a long-term approach to climate resiliency, envisions an enhanced and expanded relationship to the waterfront and a new network of thoughtfully designed public open spaces that will support a vibrant mixed-use district. The OxP team is joined by team members SOM, as master planner, and SCAPE Landscape Architecture to provide a presentation on the effort to date, followed by a discussion with forum attendees.

Boston Harbor Now holds monthly Harbor Use Public Forums for interested stakeholders to learn about and provide feedback on waterfront developments, public planning initiatives, and other harbor projects along Boston Harbor's waterfront, on the islands, and around the region. In June, we learn about the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture Waterfront Civic/Cultural Space Planning Study. This study assesses the existing and pending civic/cultural uses and future opportunities across waterfront areas in Boston to inform more equitable planning, design, and tenanting approaches for spaces provided through Chapter 91 regulations. Jared Staley, Cultural Planner at the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture, gave a presentation about their study, which will be followed by an open discussion with forum attendees. The event is free and open to the public. This is the recorded version. For more information, including opportunities to present your waterfront project or proposal at one of these meetings, please contact Kelly Sherman, Manager of Waterfront Design, at ksherman@bostonharbornow.org

Join us in February to learn about the Stone Living Lab's research, monitoring, education, and engagement projects. The Lab is an innovative and collaborative partnership focused on testing and scaling up nature-based approaches to climate adaptation in Boston Harbor and beyond. It is a unique partnership between government agencies and nonprofits: UMass Boston School for the Environment, Boston Harbor Now, the City of Boston, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs, and the National Park Service.

Learn about 232 A Street, one of the recent projects proposed along the southeast end of the Fort Point Channel. Located between 244-284 A Street (Channelside) and Gillette, the project envisions a new lab/office/R&D building and a 1.2-acre waterfront park. Like its neighbors, this project will contribute to district-wide coastal flood solutions and activate the Harborwalk with public realm improvements and public ground floor uses.

Learn about the investment plans for Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina (BHSM). This 23-acre mixed-use facility supports maritime industrial activities in the East Boston Designated Port Area with commercial marine and working waterfront industries as well as public amenities like the ICA Watershed, Seabiscuit café and Eastie Fit. With new investments and program expansion, BHSM will reconstruct bulkheads and piers, purchase a new boat lift, build three smaller and one larger shed for vessel repairs and maintenance, expand the marina, expand the Harborwalk, improve pedestrian access, and create a public container village. Additional resources: Follow this project - https://www.bhsmarina.com/investment-plan Boston's Coastal Flood Zoning Overlay District Zoning and Guidelines - https://www.bostonplans.org/planning/planning-initiatives/flood-resiliency-building-guidelines-zoning-over East Boston Resilience Plans - https://www.boston.gov/departments/environment/climate-ready-boston/coastal-resilience-east-boston Planning process to address flooding through the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway - https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/improvements-mary-ellen-welch-greenway Planning process to address flooding at Lewis Mall - https://www.bostonplans.org/planning/planning-initiatives/east-boston-resilient-waterfront-project

This month Harbor Use Public Forum, we learned about the South Boston Marine MultiPort. This project will rebuild the North Jetty at the eastern end of the Seaport and improve the lay-down space around it. Revitalizing this area would allow for special cargo handling -- break-bulk, dry-bulk, and special project materials -- as well as uses that would support the offshore wind industry. Massport and the BPDA are working with this project team to create this facility. The team, which includes Childs Engineering, Nitsch Engineering, Landing Studio, Epsilon Associates, CLT Marine, and others, is working to design and implement this project. Andrew Hargens of Massport and Shelagh Mahoney of Eastern Salt and SBMMP will be presenting the project along with Dan Adams and Ed Washburn.

In June's Harbor Use Public Forum, learn about what public and private partners have collaborated on as a district-scale protection system to address future flooding and sea-level rise.

Learn about two projects in Salem, Massachusetts where the working port is preparing for offshore wind projects and an affordable housing project is preparing for climate change impacts. The Salem Offshore Wind Terminal will provide new deployment and logistics services for offshore wind operations on a remediated, 42-acre waterfront property on the site of a former coal and oil-fired power plant within the designated port area. Nearby, the Leefort Terrace public housing development that is vulnerable to flooding is being replaced with a new elevated building and a resilient park facing the waterfront. Hear from: - Tom Daniel, Director of Planning and Community Development, City of Salem - Seth Lattrell, former Port Authority Deputy / Planner, City of Salem - Courtney Koslow, Development Director, Beacon Communities -? Ann Marton, Director of Ecological Services, LEC Environmental Consultants This meeting is meant to provide lessons from a nearby coastal community that could apply to Boston and provides opportunities for the frank, open discussion needed to optimize both private and public amenities around Boston's waterfront.

Boston Harbor Now holds monthly Harbor Use Public Forums for interested stakeholders to learn about and provide feedback on waterfront developments, public planning initiatives, and other harbor projects along Boston Harbor's waterfront and on the islands. March's Harbor Use Public Forum: 310 Northern Avenue, talks about Marcus Partners' project at 310 Northern Avenue about building lab space, maritime uses, and resilience in the Ray Flynn Marine Park.

Boston Harbor Now holds monthly Harbor Use Public Forums for interested stakeholders to learn about and provide feedback on waterfront developments, public planning initiatives, and other harbor projects along Boston Harbor's waterfront and on the islands. January's Harbor Use Public Forum: Exploring the Harborwalk, talks about learning about how to make the most of Boston's 43-mile shoreline. Finding public amenities available thanks to Chapter 91, discover the best places for views, learn about the interpretive signage, and see what happens when someone reports a problem. Hear from: - David Lyon, a local travel writer who explored the Harborwalk with an explorers' eye in 2021 - Liz Nelson Weaver, who leads the work of the Friends of the Boston Harborwalk to develop signage celebrating the rich history of the waterfront - Greg McQuade, senior vice president of Asset Management at Jamestown who ensures waterfront buildings conform with Chapter 91 obligations and work make the Harborwalk more inviting - Kelly Sherman, who works with the City of Boston to close 311 cases as part of her role at Boston Harbor Now The first of David and Patricia's Boston Globe articles: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/28/lifestyle/boston-harborwalk-four-easy-pieces/ Independence Wharf's roof deck is mentioned by David (it's open during regular office hours): https://www.google.com/maps/dir//470+Atlantic+Ave,+Boston,+MA+02210/@42.3538613,-71.0529177,17z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x89e37080ed652ecd:0xace5323e227d6fc1!2m2!1d-71.0513553!2d42.3541894 All of the signs developed by the Friends of the Boston Harborwalk: https://boshw.us/?lang=english How to get involved with Liz and the Friends: https://www.bostonharbornow.org/get-involved/fohw/ The Harborwalk webtool shared by Kelly: https://www.bostonharborwalk.org/ To report any Boston issues via 311: https://www.boston.gov/departments/boston-311

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Learn about the City of Boston's Climate Ready East Boston and Charlestown Phase 2 as well as the implementation of Phase 1 projects. Use the links below to learn more about the projects: Climate Ready East Boston https://www.boston.gov/departments/environment/climate-ready-east-boston Climate Ready Charlestown https://www.boston.gov/departments/environment/climate-ready-charlestown East Boston Resilient Waterfront Project https://www.bostonplans.org/planning/planning-initiatives/east-boston-resilient-waterfront-project Mary Ellen Welch Greenway https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/improvements-mary-ellen-welch-greenway Ryan Playground https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/improvements-john-j-ryan-playground

Learn about the Lovejoy to Fan Pier ferry that connects North Station to the Seaport and the even newer Lewis Mall to Fan Pier ferry that connects East Boston to Seaport.

Learn about a new tool that calculates public/private trade-offs for waterfront development. Tidelands calculator - https://www.tidelandcalculator.com/ Boston Globe Article - https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/29/business/can-you-put-price-waterfront-access-conservation-law-foundation-aims-try/

Learn about the City of Boston's new Wetlands Protection Ordinance with Nick Moreno, the Executive Director of the Boston Conservation Commission.