History of the Muddy River

The headwaters of the Muddy River spring from Jamaica Pond, flow downstream through ponds and conduits and emerge in Riverway Park, only to disappear into a series of underground pipes, resurface to meander through the Fens and finally spill through a series of conduits into the Charles River. In colonial times the Muddy River was a clear stream in a rural landscape; by the mid-19th Century it was an open sewer. On October 29, 1881, The Brookline Chronicle reported "[t]he stream is filthy beyond description and the stench arising from it at times almost unbearable." The malodorous situation wasn't the only problem. A tidal stream, the Muddy River flooded periodically.

But change was already in the works. In the early 1880's, Frederick Law Olmsted, renowned for his design of New York's Central Park, began work on the Muddy River Improvement, also known as the Riverway. His vision was two-fold. Pragmatically, he wanted to solve the problem of flooding; aesthetically he saw the potential to create a beautiful park. Actualizing his vision, he redirected the flow of the river with carefully sculpted banks and installed more than 150,000 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. The Riverway, with its park walks, bridle paths, and carriage roads, became part of one of Olmsted's most famous accomplishments, Brookline and Boston's treasured 'Emerald Necklace'.

Urban development wreaked havoc with Frederick Law Olmsted’s vision for the Muddy River. Ground surfaces that would have absorbed water were paved over, riverbanks eroded, invasive species choked waterways, and undersized culverts, storm damage, and neglect undid Olmsted's improvements. The once beautiful park and waterway became a menace, flooding residences, businesses, and the public transit system three times since 1996 and adding urgency to implementation of the Emerald Necklace Environmental Improvements Master Plan.

Muddy River Restoration Project

Phase I, the Muddy River Restoration Project (MRRP), is a joint effort of Boston Parks and Recreation Department, Brookline Parks and Open Space Division, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Army Corps of Engineers. The MMRP will enhance flood control, improve water quality, as well as protect the habitats of native wildlife and historic landmarks. The Muddy River Maintenance and Management Oversight Committee, (MMOC), a citizen advisory group representing environmental, cultural, educational, and medical organizations, will protect the investment of over 90 million dollars, and ensure that improvements are properly maintained.

Studios Without Walls

Studios Without Walls, a Brookline-based collaborative of sculptors, has exhibited outdoor sculpture and site-responsive installations for more than ten years. These temporary outdoor exhibitions stimulate dialogue about the interrelationship of aesthetics, environment, and the community.

As Olmsted used art -- and engineering -- to create a landscape of natural beauty, the artists use the interplay between art and nature to draw attention to the beauty of the locale, the aesthetic and environmental benefits of the Restoration Project, the historical importance of the Emerald Necklace, and the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted.

The current exhibition, "Nature and Artifice: Temporary Art along the Muddy River," is hosted by the Brookline Parks and Recreation Department, in coordination with the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, the Friends of the Muddy River, the Brookline Environmental Education Department, the Brookline Greenspace Alliance, the Mass Audubon Society, Friends of the Carlton Street Footbridge, and the Olmsted National Historic Site. There is an artist statement and bio at each site. We hope you enjoy our exhibition.