Walking

Construction Closes Popular Walking Route Across Public Garden In Downtown Boston

A heavily-used pedestrian route between Back Bay and downtown Boston will be closed until spring 2024 while workers restore two historic fountains at the Arlington Street entrance to the Public Garden.

9:21 AM EDT on September 26, 2023

A locator map of downtown Boston and Back Bay with the Public Garden in the center and the Charles River in the upper right. A red X marks the spot where a popular access point into the Garden will be closed until Spring 2024. The X is in the center of the map, where Commonwealth Avenue terminates at the western edge of the Garden.

A construction project will close a well-used pedestrian gate where Commonwealth Avenue meets the Public Garden, marked by a red X in the map above.

Starting on Wednesday, September 13, a construction project will close pedestrian access into the Public Garden from the Arlington Street gate, located directly across from the Commonwealth Avenue mall (see map above).

The rest of the Garden will still be open, and can be accessed by other gates located one block away in either direction, at the ends of Newbury Street or Marlborough Street.

The Child Fountain Restoration Project, sponsored by the Friends of the Public Garden, will renovate the areas around the George Washington statue and the two fountains on either side. The project will also install upgrades to the park’s lighting, new seating, and accessibility improvements.

The project is expected to continue into spring 2024.

Walking

More from Streetsblog Massachusetts

Highways

Gov. Healey Cuts the Ribbon On Fall River’s Waterfront Highway-to-Boulevard Conversion

The Commonwealth has received bids from three development companies, ranging from $10.3 million to $15.2 million, for the 20 acres of empty land that the project has freed up on Fall River's riverfront.

Christian MilNeil

October 30, 2026

Streetsblog USA |Daily headlines

Friday’s Headlines (Except Spooky)

Your annual reminder that letting kids safely roam around their neighborhood is not the top priority.

Blake Aued

October 30, 2026

Traffic Calming

Eyes On the Street: DCR Tames Traffic Next to Boston’s Arnold Arboretum

This autumn, workers are putting the finishing touches on a major reconfiguration of Walter Street and Centre Street in West Roxbury, at the western edge of the Arnold Arboretum.

Christian MilNeil

October 28, 2026

Streetsblog USA |Vision Zero

Study: The Missing Ingredient in the Fight To End Car Crash Deaths is… Fewer Cars

The common denominator in every car crashes is a car. So why don't we talk about it?

Kea Wilson

October 27, 2026

Streetsblog USA |Bicycling

Why Deadly, Illegal E-Motos Are On The Rise – And Why E-Bikes Are Being Blamed When They Crash

...and what we can do to protect our kids *and* the e-bike revolution.