Back Bay Fens

Back Bay Fens has become an area used to escape the busy city life. Originally designed by Olmstead to relieve the Charles River of over flooding during storms, the topography levels change drastically along the banks of the river. By adding recreational elements such as walking paths, basketball courts, baseball fields, and gardens, the original design for the space mainly goes unnoticed. Surrounding buildings form along the curves of the park, creating a direct relationship between the residents and the park. The buildings also act as some sort of wall or enclosure, framing the Fens within the city of Boston. Although the Fens was originally designed to deal with flood waters, the original design remains masked by its use of recreation and urban escape.