Boston should preserve urban parks, panel says

Boston historians and environmentalists at a Massachusetts Historical Society panel discussion agreed that Boston Common needs to regain the title of the country’s first park for it to receive the attention and funding it needs.

The panel discussion was part of this weekend’s Charter Day celebration, which commemorates the founding of Boston and the surrounding settlements.

Panelist William Fowler — who give a brief history lesson about the settling of Boston on Sept. 7, 1630 — said the settlers’ intended to set aside a common space to be used by the whole community.

Although Boston’s residents “no longer have a common element — we are a diverse society,” he emphasized need to regain the civil responsibility to preserve common space that the first settlers possessed.

Preserving the common space, however, is easier said than done, according to panelists.

The threat of destruction of Boston’s parks comes directly from the city’s government, said panelist and environmental analyst Fredrick Winthorp.

“The government does not do a very good job of preserving and supporting the park system, mainly because it is much easier to raise funds to destroy the parks rather than preserve them,” he said.

Other panelists discussed what they were doing to help preserve Boston’s common spaces.

Panelist Laura Johnson spoke of the Boston Urban Nature Center, a large park system aimed at getting the people of the city re-interested in wilderness and nature.

“There’s an obligation for all of us to keep a place where people can freely observe nature within the city,” Johnson said. “There are many kids in this city who are very comfortable on the pavement, but are scared of wilderness altogether.”

One topic that sparked heated debate was the question of how parks can still exist within cities.

Ashley Lanfer, the campaign manager of Boston Parks 2004, said the parks must invite all types of people to come in and enjoy the parks rather than have the parks serve as a barrier between different areas in the city. Boston Parks 2004 is a campaign to renew commitment to urban parks in Boston by planning citywide park events, increasing funds for park planning and coordinating a group of thousands of green space advocates.

Charles Euchner, the forum moderator and director of the Rapport Institute, agreed the city of Boston should co-exist with the parks, rather than the two existing as a separate entity.

“One of the most interesting things about the city of Boston is that the people here are able to live in an urban environment while still being able to enjoy nature in all different forms,” he said.

Throughout the discussion there was a presence of city pride. On many separate occasions, panelists expressed resentment for the claim that New York City’s Central Park was the nation’s first common space within a heavy urban area.

“Many people have forgotten that Boston Common was the country’s first park, thus dismissing the importance of the Boston park system,” Euchner said.