Charles River Esplanade
Downtown Boston, Back Bay
The Charles River Esplanade (commonly referred to as “the Esplanade”) is a 64-acre riverfront park with pathways along the bank of the Charles River in Back Bay and Beacon Hill. It is well-suited for running, biking, and rollerblading, and has great views of the Charles River. Within the park are little league and soccer fields (Teddy Ebersol’s Red Sox Fields), the iconic Hatch Memorial Shell venue, and 3 different playgrounds along the main path. The Esplanade Association, the nonprofit organization that maintains, revitalizes, enhances, and programs the Esplanade, also hosts a variety of events and programs year-round including their River Front Summer Fitness Classes and GroundBeat Music Series. This is also a popular destination for tourists, particularly in spring, to see the cherry blossoms.
This Park is Best For:
The Charles River Esplanade is typically best used for the following:
Basic Info
- Size: 64 Acres
- Terrain: Flat
- Transportation: the T
- Path Types: Cement
- Hours: 24 hours
- Restrooms: Yes (Closed for Winter) 2 locations: near the Hatch Shell; Near the Dartmouth St Facility.
- Drinking Fountains: Yes (4)
- Benches: Yes
- Lights: Yes
Park Amenities
- Playgrounds (3)
- Amphitheater
- Live Music
- Outdoor Fitness Equipment
- Outdoor Brewery & Beer Garden
- Outdoor Yoga & Fitness Classes
- Little League Fields
- Youth Soccer Field
- Docks for Kayaking & Paddleboarding
- Waterfront Views
Events
Here are some public events that are happening at Charles River Esplanade, including concerts, fitness classes and more:
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Fast Facts About The Charles River Esplanade:
- The Esplanade stretches for 3.2 miles one way along the Charles River on the Boston side, between the Museum of Science and the Boston University (BU) Bridge.
- The Hatch Shell is the site many concerts and live music, including the nationally-broadcast Boston Pops July 4th concert & fireworks.
- The Annual Head of the Charles Regatta is the world’s largest two-day rowing event that attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year and can be viewed from the Esplanade.
Directions
Visitors of the Esplanade can access the park via six different footbridges located along the 3.2-mile length of the Esplanade. The closest T stops within walking distance to the Esplanade are Charles/MGH on the red line or along the green line at Arlington, Copley, Hynes Convention Center, Kenmore (B, C, D,), Blanford Street (B), Boston University East (B), or Boston University Central (B).
Additionally, there are several BlueBikes docking stations located within walking distance of the Esplanade from Beacon Hill to Fenway/Allston. If visitors wish to drive to the Esplanade, recommended parking spots include the Boston Common Parking Garage, Newbury Street Garage, or finding street parking in Beacon Hill or Back Bay.
Use this map to find different amenities in at the Esplanade, including playgrounds, beer garden, workout station, sports fields and parking near the park.
Resources
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