The Emerald Necklace is Boston's historic 1,100-acre chain of parks and waterways that stretches through the city. The entire system provides nearly 10 miles of dedicated, mostly off-road paths from the State House to Franklin Park, though typical runs cover about 7 miles from Boston Common to the Arnold Arboretum.
**Long Run Options:**
The complete route from Boston Common through Franklin Park totals approximately 7-9 miles one way, with the path being approximately 75% paved and 25% fine gravel or packed dirt. For longer distances, you can connect to the Southwest Corridor path for an additional 5 miles of car-free running.
Designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted between 1878 and 1896, the Emerald Necklace gets its name from the way this chain of green spaces appears to hang from the "neck" of the Boston peninsula. This linear park system represents half of Boston's total park acreage and stands as the only remaining intact linear park designed by Olmsted in the United States.
The system connects nine distinct parks through a series of parkways and waterways:
- **Boston Common** (the oldest, dating from colonial times)
- **Public Garden**
- **Commonwealth Avenue Mall**
- **Back Bay Fens**
- **The Riverway**
- **Olmsted Park**
- **Jamaica Pond**
- **Arnold Arboretum**
- **Franklin Park**
### Key Running Routes and Distances
**Popular Loops:**
- **Jamaica Pond Loop**: 1.45-1.5 miles around the pond with slight elevation changes
- **Franklin Park Circuit**: 2.5 miles with more challenging terrain and hills
- **Leverett Pond Loop**: 0.7 miles, good for recovery runs
- **Museum of Fine Arts to Jamaica Pond**: 5-mile loop option
## Historical Significance and Vision
Olmsted's design philosophy centered on creating democratic spaces where people of all backgrounds could find relief from urban life. His vision emphasized connectedness—linking parks through continuous pathways—and combining natural beauty with practical urban infrastructure. The system originally served as an early example of green infrastructure, helping to control flooding from the Muddy River while creating recreational spaces.The Emerald Necklace was designated as a Boston Landmark in 1989 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Olmsted Park System.
## Special Features for Runners
Beyond running paths, the Emerald Necklace offers amenities that support training:
- Public restrooms at the Jamaica Pond Boathouse
- Water fountains at various points along the route
- Connection points to MBTA stations for point-to-point runs
- **Hill training opportunities** at Franklin Park and the Arnold Arboretum's Peters Hill (240 feet elevation, the highest point in the system)
Sources:
Emerald Necklace - Wikipedia
Emerald Necklace | Boston.gov
The Emerald Necklace - Arnold Arboretum - Harvard University
Scenic Runs on the Emerald Necklace in Boston
Running on Boston's Emerald Necklace route - Great Runs
The Emerald Necklace: Exploring Boston's Greenways
[PDF] Emerald-Necklace-Map
Frederick Law Olmsted - The Emerald Necklace Conservancy
The Legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted's Emerald Necklace
Emerald Necklace - Olmsted Network
The Emerald Necklace Conservancy | Boston, MA
Olmsted's treasured Emerald Necklace under siege
