The Trustees of Reservations

As the Trustees’ Boston presence has expanded in the last decade, we have become increasingly aware of the opportunities for positive change along the City’s waterfront as well as the critical issues that threaten its world-class reputation. Most notably, these include lack of quality open space that provides community amenities, signature beauty or waterfront identity; significant vulnerability to major weather events; the lack of a cohesive waterfront vision or plan amongst City stakeholders; and haphazard development and municipal planning. Our response to these opportunities and challenges is our Boston Waterfront Initiative, which advances a bold vision for iconic, public open space on the Boston Waterfront. Our goal is to contribute to the City’s quality of life by creating and managing a significant park or parks that serve as a world-class destination and increase our stature as a city on the coast; support diverse community need and accessibility; bring value to Boston’s climate resiliency goals; and create financially feasible open space that has a viable plan for its long-term care.

Considered the museum of the Massachusetts landscape, The Trustees is dedicated to increasing public appreciation and use of its properties. Core to this are creative efforts to reach and engage new and expanded audiences through powerful experiences at Trustees’ gardens, historic houses, beaches, and public parks. In 2016, The Trustees launched Art & the Landscape, an initiative aimed at enhancing and enriching the visitor experience through site-specific outdoor art installations by world renowned contemporary artists. With this initiative, we seek to: provide contemporary artists with an opportunity to create work in new settings and engage with new audiences; change the paradigm of artwork in public space from objects that are meant solely to be observed and contemplated, to structures that are catalysts for interaction, exchange, dialogue, and participation; activate our sites by attracting new audiences and engaging current audiences in new ways; transform the way audiences experience key Trustees landscapes; and further The Trustees’ stature as a cultural leader.