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Findings & Recommendations | Methodology | Urban Wilds Analysis | Urban Wilds Council and Friends Groups |
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Maps |
Download Database |
1990 Report |
1976 Report |
Glossary
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Methodology
The Urban Wilds E-Report is the result of the collaboration amongst a number of non-profit organizations and public agencies. From the start of the project, BNAN worked with an Advisory Committee that helped guide this project and locate resources. Member organizations include the Boston Parks Department Urban Wilds Initiative, the MA DCR Urban Forestry Program, Earthworks, Allston Brighton CDC, Boston Redevelopment Authority, City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development, Boston Conservation Commission, The Trustees of Reservations and the Urban Ecology Institute.
A generous donation from ESRI of the Arcview software enabled us to use GIS as the primary mapping software. Boston City data for the maps was provided by the Boston Water and Sewer Department as well as the Boston Redevelopment Authority. BNAN staff and interns conducted site surveys for all 143 Urban Wilds. Surveyors went out with parcel maps and were able to mark the Wild boundaries and features in minute detail. As a result, the maps in this report feature very detailed and accurate parcels or portions of them, as identified on site. Sites that have been partially protected or lost, have been designated unique boundaries to identify the exact parcels protected or lost. Each part of a site with a unique status has been identified individually as subset within the original site. As a result, the total number of sites still remains 143 but the number of sites, each with a unique status designation, stands at 160.
Extensive site surveys and photos have been recorded and fed into a database for the accompanying analysis. This is the first time such detailed data has been captured for these Urban Wilds. In addition to listing, locating and picturing the Wilds, the website includes site-specific histories and other information, including the contacts to the Friends Groups associated with the various Wilds. It is our endeavor that this website will be a powerful new tool for the community to build and connect with other constituents for Urban Wilds.
Since the first study in 1977 and the subsequent 1990 report, there has been a great advance in mapping technologies available to us. With the ability to map boundaries more accurately and ability to calculate site acreage with much greater preciseness, website users will notice changes in site information presented, as compared to the older reports. Going forward, it is our intention to use the 2008 figures to accurately represent these sites.
The aerial views for all Wilds are based on aerial images taken in 2003. In this report, BNAN uses the 1976 Urban Wild site numbers, which the BRA assigned by neighborhood. Some of the neighborhood designations may seem incorrect to readers. This is because neighborhood boundaries, as defined by city agency maps and by public sentiment, change over time. BNAN has kept the BRA’S designations for the sake of clarity and continuity.
Click here for a glossary of Urban Wild definitions and terms.