2023,bgsa logo and link to homepage

Carlton Street Footbridge Footbridge

In 1890, Frederick Law Olmsted, considered the father of American landscape architecture, designed the six-mile-long Emerald Necklace, America’s first park system. The footbridge and path design at Carlton Street was intended to link the “neighboring streets” to the Park.

Closed since 1976, and rebuilt and reopened in September 2023, the Carlton Street Footbridge has regained its function as an important entrance to the Emerald Necklace. Many years of advocacy by the Brookline GreenSpace Alliance, the Friends of the Carlton Street Footbridge and others led to a joyous reopening celebration on September 17, 2023. Many pedestrians and cyclists use the bridge every day and enjoy the improved access to Olmsted’s Riverway Park, the rest of the Emerald Necklace, and points beyond.

More detailed information about the restoration project can be found in the Spring/Summer 2023 and Fall/Winter 2023 issues of PLACE. There are detailed, monthly UPDATES of the bridge restoration here. Below are links to videos by Hugh Mattison, on the same subject.

 

https://tinyurl.com/csf-bradleyjay In Greater Boston's Emerald Necklace, an 1894 Bridge Gets A New Life
https://tinyurl.com/csf-flyingbridge Time lapse video of main span assembly after restoration Oct. 15, 2022
https://tinyurl.com/csf-movingday Carlton Street Footbridge - Moving Day June 2022
https://tinyurl.com/csf-birdseyeview Drone video of Carlton Street Footbridge Oct. 17, 2022
https://tinyurl.com/csf-beveridge Interview with Dr. Charles E. Beveridge about the Carlton Street Footbridge Oct. 2009
https://tinyurl.com/csf-ribboncutting Opening Day celebration Sept. 17, 202