We generally don't think of Columbia Road as being part of Frederick Law Olmsted's plan for his Boston park system--the original Emerald Necklace plans didn't include Dorchester and South Boston, so Franklin Park serves as a mental terminus, (see this map) with the Dorchester/South Boston roadways and Pleasure Bay forgotten. Yet the city did have plans for a "Dorchesterway", to be joined to the Fenway, Riverway, Jamaicaway, Arborway. and the Strandway.
Every few years, plans emerge to integrate Columbia Road into the broader system. A few years ago the city placed planters full of flowers along some stretches of Columbia Road. The use of flowers to soften the Columbia Road streetscape isn't new, as shown in this c. 1916 postcard, where flowers ring the statue of Edward Everett.
Columbia Road no longer has a rotary at Edward Everett Square and the Edward Everett statue is now in Richardson Park.
A picture of Columbia Road being widened can be found here.
From the 1896 Report of the Boston Street Laying-Out Department:
The "Missing Link" In the Park System
The commissioners have before this directed attention to the work necessary to be done to supply what had been called the "missing link" in the park system connections. There is not now a suitable thoroughfare between the Marine park at South Boston and Franklin park. The Board heartily reiterates recommendations it has had the honor to previously submit regarding the widening of Columbia street and Boston street; the great desirability of this improvement being a natural sequence of development of the park system. Columbia street is already extensively used for light driving between the Dorchesterway (a continuation of the Strandway) at the Five Corners, where Boston street and Massachusetts avenue conjoin, and the entrance to Franklin park. where Columbia street opens into Blue Hill avenue. Boston street, from the Dorchesterway to Dudley street, is of varying widths, and Columbia street, from Dudley street to Franklin park, is no less changeable. If both thoroughfares were widened uniformly, the improvement would have a much wider than local appreciation; and the cost would represent a wise investment for the city. Massachusetts avenue, the great cross-town thoroughfare, becomes a factor in this consideration. To reach Franklin park by way of Massachusetts avenue, Boston and Columbia streets (widened) would be much more agreeable driving than passing out from the city through the thickly settled parts of Roxbury and Dorchester, while the distance would be about the same in both directions.
"Dorchesterway" is kinda clunky, though. So if it ever happens, they should call it the Dotway!
Posted by: adamg | 18 January 2006 at 22:01
Interesting. Does a larger map exist somewhere?
Posted by: Lyss | 19 January 2006 at 19:18
The Dorchester Parkway and Strandway and Columbia Road were all planned by the City of Boston to complete the loop/necklace around Boston. It goes from Boston Common to Marine Park. Marine Park predates all the parkworks from Charlesgate to Franklin Park. Upwards of 40,000 people would come to Marine Park on Sundays in the late 1800s. A more efficient way of getting people there was the widening of Columbia Road from Franklin Park and the development of the 'Parkway' and 'Strandway'. The Olmsted website specifically mentions this (parks and parkways) in its website regarding the 'Emerald Necklace'.
Posted by: Jim | 26 November 2006 at 16:04