April 11, 2026 • 7 mins
Despite the recent snow, spring is here in Massachusetts, and it's a perfect time to get out and explore all the beautiful parks Greater Boston has to offer! Many of them are connected by the more-than-century-old Emerald Necklace, which is stewarded by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. The Conservancy is offering the public a chance to experience those parks on two wheels with some upcoming community bike rides, and Carlen Singmaster, the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Conservancy, joins Nichole to share the details.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
Each week right here, we come together, we talk about
all the topics important to you and the place where
you live. Great to have you back with us this week.
I'm Nicole Davis. Now that's springtime's here in Massachusetts. It's
a little bit easier to emerge from the cocoon that
is our house and get outside and enjoy all of
our gorgeous parks that we have here in Greater Boston.
(00:30):
Think about it. We've got the River, wage you make
a pond, Franklin Park, the Back Bay Fence, the Esplanade,
so many to choose from, and some of the best
known parks are connected by something called the Emerald Necklace.
This was designed more than one hundred years ago and
it connects parks through Boston and Brookline. One of the
best ways to explore it, though, is on two wheels.
In the coming weeks, it's going to be easier than
(00:51):
ever for you to do just that, as the Emerald
Necklace Conservancy is hosting a series of community bike rides.
Let's learn more about them now with Carlin Singmaster. She's
the senior events manager at the Conservancy. Carl and I
imagine now that the weather is getting better, things are
getting pretty busy over there for you. Now that spring
has arrived.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
The Necklace is coming to life, that is for sure.
You know, all the snow is melted, the trees are
starting to bloom and bud. We're getting ready to activate
a number of programs, including our Canopy Classroom, which is
where we invite third and fourth graders throughout the Boston
Public School to come and learn and have an education experience.
(01:32):
Actually in the park, we have a number of volunteer
days coming up on the weekend, so we're really gearing up.
We also have our Muddy River Cleanup, which happens during
Earth Week the middle of April, so that is a
big day where everyone comes out and cleans up the
river and the park, and we have over one thousand
volunteers every year. So we have a lot going on.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Yeah, you do, including this event. So a three part
community bike ride series called Pedal the Necklace, and the
first ride is coming up here in just a matter
of days. Tell us some how this all came together
and why you wanted to focus on biking through the Necklace.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, that is a great question. So obviously Boston is
a biking city.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
You know.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
We have a lot of bike lanes, We have a
lot of people that use biking for commuting but also
for pleasure, and the Emerald Necklace is just a beautiful
place for people to ride their bikes, again for pleasure
and for commuting, And we just thought it might be
a great opportunity to partner with a few folks and
(02:37):
get people out there in the park and show them
how to ride their bike safely throughout the Necklift. Because
of course there are cars, there are some limited pathways,
so we just really wanted to give people an opportunity
to get out there. And whether you're a new biker
or new to the area, or someone that spiked for
a while but just may not be familiar with the Necklace,
(02:58):
we just thought this might be a great opportunity to
get people out there.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, for sure, I think that it can be a
little overwhelming the bike in Boston, even though we do
have a lot of extensive biking infrastructure, people here know
what they're doing on those bikes, and if you're a
new biker, you might go, oh my gosh, I'm like
terrified to rent one of these blue bikes or even
try this out, but it seems like going through the
parks of the Emerald Necklace is an easy way to start.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
It is it is an easy way to start, We
think so, of course, as we're very familiar, you know,
with biking around the Necklace. But it's again it's an
opportunity to activate our greenways and to build some safer
connections and to get people to feel really comfortable biking
around around the Necklace and through the Necklace. That the
(03:44):
rides are going to be very low stress. We're going
to have a number of volunteers that will help with safety,
that there'll be some education moments on how to bike
safely cross walks, to use different ways to enter the park.
And then we're also going to educate people about the necklace.
We'll have some great information and tidbits about the parks.
(04:05):
So it's really going to be a fun opportunity.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Now we've got three rides here. The first one is
going to be on April eighteenth. This one's going to
go from Franklin Park to Jamaica Pond. So tell us
about the other two rides you've got after that.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Yep, So that one is happening as you've mentioned on
April eighteenth, So our second ride will be on May second,
and that will go from Jamaica Pond to the Back
Bay Fence, which is over where actually our visitor center
is located. The Conservancy manages a visitor center that's open
year round, so that will be about a three point
(04:41):
eight mile bike ride. And then after that we have
May ninth, there'll be a bike ride from the Back
Bay Fends all the way to the Boston Common, which
is our lengthiest ride of four miles. And what will
be neat about that is you'll go through this area
called Charles Gate, which is in the process of being
redevelop up. There are a lot of improvements going on
(05:02):
there to make that a safer and more accessible place
for pedestrians in the community.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
And what I really love is that you're offering up
free bike rentals and snacks. We need snacks.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Well, yes, when you're biking, we want to make sure
you're hydrated and that you have some snacks. And we
have partnered with Blue Bikes, so there will be some
limited availability for some free Blue Blue bikes if you
don't have a bike, which is you know the case
for a number of people who live in the city.
They may not have a place to store a bike
or keep a bike. So that was really great partnership.
(05:37):
We were excited about.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Who else are you working with by the way on
this So our.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Other programs are Boston Cyclists Union and Livable Streets Alliance.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
So if people want to get involved, you know, how
much do they have to pay? Where do they have
to go? Tell us about the details on that.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
They do not have to pay for anything. It is free.
You need to sign up up at Emeraldnecklace dot org.
There is a registration page that you can sign up
for one of the rides, two of the rides, or
three of the rides. It is completely up to you
and it's first come, first serve and they are filling up,
(06:15):
so I would suggest if you're interested, go on and
sign up.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Okay, so again first one April eighteenth, and you've got
a couple more in May. And where can people find
out more about everything else? You mentioned all those great
events at the start of our interview. Where can people
find out more and get involved with everything else happening
at the Necklace.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Our website has a wealth of information. We are trying
to update it regularly. It's Emeraldnecklace dot Org. At the top,
we have a tab called the Event section, and the
first drop down is calendar, so that lifts out all
of our calendar of events that we're aware of and
have planned at this moment. So that's the best way
to get all of your information.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Okay, well, Carlin, this is great info. I hope you
have the best time. It's going to be a gorgeous
ride along the Necklace. Thank you so much for spending
the time on the show with us.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Absolutely, thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join us again
next week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole
Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
Each week right here, we come together, we talk about
all the topics important to you and the place where
you live. Great to have you back with us this week.
I'm Nicole Davis. Now that's springtime's here in Massachusetts. It's
a little bit easier to emerge from the cocoon that
is our house and get outside and enjoy all of
our gorgeous parks that we have here in Greater Boston.
(00:30):
Think about it. We've got the River, wage you make
a pond, Franklin Park, the Back Bay Fence, the Esplanade,
so many to choose from, and some of the best
known parks are connected by something called the Emerald Necklace.
This was designed more than one hundred years ago and
it connects parks through Boston and Brookline. One of the
best ways to explore it, though, is on two wheels.
In the coming weeks, it's going to be easier than
(00:51):
ever for you to do just that, as the Emerald
Necklace Conservancy is hosting a series of community bike rides.
Let's learn more about them now with Carlin Singmaster. She's
the senior events manager at the Conservancy. Carl and I
imagine now that the weather is getting better, things are
getting pretty busy over there for you. Now that spring
has arrived.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
The Necklace is coming to life, that is for sure.
You know, all the snow is melted, the trees are
starting to bloom and bud. We're getting ready to activate
a number of programs, including our Canopy Classroom, which is
where we invite third and fourth graders throughout the Boston
Public School to come and learn and have an education experience.
(01:32):
Actually in the park, we have a number of volunteer
days coming up on the weekend, so we're really gearing up.
We also have our Muddy River Cleanup, which happens during
Earth Week the middle of April, so that is a
big day where everyone comes out and cleans up the
river and the park, and we have over one thousand
volunteers every year. So we have a lot going on.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Yeah, you do, including this event. So a three part
community bike ride series called Pedal the Necklace, and the
first ride is coming up here in just a matter
of days. Tell us some how this all came together
and why you wanted to focus on biking through the Necklace.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, that is a great question. So obviously Boston is
a biking city.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
You know.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
We have a lot of bike lanes, We have a
lot of people that use biking for commuting but also
for pleasure, and the Emerald Necklace is just a beautiful
place for people to ride their bikes, again for pleasure
and for commuting, And we just thought it might be
a great opportunity to partner with a few folks and
(02:37):
get people out there in the park and show them
how to ride their bike safely throughout the Necklift. Because
of course there are cars, there are some limited pathways,
so we just really wanted to give people an opportunity
to get out there. And whether you're a new biker
or new to the area, or someone that spiked for
a while but just may not be familiar with the Necklace,
(02:58):
we just thought this might be a great opportunity to
get people out there.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, for sure, I think that it can be a
little overwhelming the bike in Boston, even though we do
have a lot of extensive biking infrastructure, people here know
what they're doing on those bikes, and if you're a
new biker, you might go, oh my gosh, I'm like
terrified to rent one of these blue bikes or even
try this out, but it seems like going through the
parks of the Emerald Necklace is an easy way to start.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
It is it is an easy way to start, We
think so, of course, as we're very familiar, you know,
with biking around the Necklace. But it's again it's an
opportunity to activate our greenways and to build some safer
connections and to get people to feel really comfortable biking
around around the Necklace and through the Necklace. That the
(03:44):
rides are going to be very low stress. We're going
to have a number of volunteers that will help with safety,
that there'll be some education moments on how to bike
safely cross walks, to use different ways to enter the park.
And then we're also going to educate people about the necklace.
We'll have some great information and tidbits about the parks.
(04:05):
So it's really going to be a fun opportunity.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Now we've got three rides here. The first one is
going to be on April eighteenth. This one's going to
go from Franklin Park to Jamaica Pond. So tell us
about the other two rides you've got after that.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Yep, So that one is happening as you've mentioned on
April eighteenth, So our second ride will be on May second,
and that will go from Jamaica Pond to the Back
Bay Fence, which is over where actually our visitor center
is located. The Conservancy manages a visitor center that's open
year round, so that will be about a three point
(04:41):
eight mile bike ride. And then after that we have
May ninth, there'll be a bike ride from the Back
Bay Fends all the way to the Boston Common, which
is our lengthiest ride of four miles. And what will
be neat about that is you'll go through this area
called Charles Gate, which is in the process of being
redevelop up. There are a lot of improvements going on
(05:02):
there to make that a safer and more accessible place
for pedestrians in the community.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
And what I really love is that you're offering up
free bike rentals and snacks. We need snacks.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Well, yes, when you're biking, we want to make sure
you're hydrated and that you have some snacks. And we
have partnered with Blue Bikes, so there will be some
limited availability for some free Blue Blue bikes if you
don't have a bike, which is you know the case
for a number of people who live in the city.
They may not have a place to store a bike
or keep a bike. So that was really great partnership.
(05:37):
We were excited about.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Who else are you working with by the way on
this So our.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Other programs are Boston Cyclists Union and Livable Streets Alliance.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
So if people want to get involved, you know, how
much do they have to pay? Where do they have
to go? Tell us about the details on that.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
They do not have to pay for anything. It is free.
You need to sign up up at Emeraldnecklace dot org.
There is a registration page that you can sign up
for one of the rides, two of the rides, or
three of the rides. It is completely up to you
and it's first come, first serve and they are filling up,
(06:15):
so I would suggest if you're interested, go on and
sign up.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Okay, so again first one April eighteenth, and you've got
a couple more in May. And where can people find
out more about everything else? You mentioned all those great
events at the start of our interview. Where can people
find out more and get involved with everything else happening
at the Necklace.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Our website has a wealth of information. We are trying
to update it regularly. It's Emeraldnecklace dot Org. At the top,
we have a tab called the Event section, and the
first drop down is calendar, so that lifts out all
of our calendar of events that we're aware of and
have planned at this moment. So that's the best way
to get all of your information.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Okay, well, Carlin, this is great info. I hope you
have the best time. It's going to be a gorgeous
ride along the Necklace. Thank you so much for spending
the time on the show with us.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Absolutely, thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join us again
next week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole
Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.
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