Scarboro Pond/Hill

Scarboro Pond, Job #00918, Boston, MA

Olmsted Archives

Quick Facts

Location:

Boston, MA

Significance:

Olmsted Designed Landscape

MANAGED BY:

Emerald Necklace Conservancy

After the public demanded a waterway in Franklin Park, Olmsted changed his original park designs to fit the growing needs of the City. After two years of excavation, it was realized that the plan to connect Scarboro Pond to Ward’s Pond in Brookline would never be realized, so Scarboro Pond would remain isolated and stagnant, though quite beautiful. Despite being unable to connect with Ward’s Pond, Scarboro Pond is connected to another nearby waterway, with underground pipes leading from Jamaica Pond to supply water.Next to the pond is a sloping hillside of huge, century old beech trees. Olmsted intended for the hill along the West side of the pond to house a dairy with sheep and cattle, though a growing city would deem open space for recreational purposes more important.

Source: "Franklin Park," The Cultural Landscape Foundation

For more information and primary resources, please visit:
Olmsted Research Guide Online
Olmsted Archives on Flickr
Olmsted Online