The Back Bay Fens

Yet another narrow green space tucked away among Boston’s busy roads. This area is nice for a walk and is quite close to the museum of fine arts. There is also an area which seems to be a community garden, in which people have small sectioned-​off plots to grow their own plants.

Favorite spot to clear my head. Lots of geese roaming around
Pro tip: be careful of where you walk because of the geese… oyyyy
Another pro tip: lots of small gardens. Give yourself a few hours to explore on a good day

I live around the Fens and walk by dog by here on a daily basis… I’ve only been in Boston since August 2013 and I have to say that I have not had any bad experiences here. Of course I stay in the lighted paths around the fens at night just to be safe, but I really have not seen anything shady or scary.
There’s always a lot of geese, squirrels, and rabbits around. There’s a nice big area of grass that great for picnics during the summer. A lot of people play soccer, football, etc. on the field that’s on one end of the park. The war memorial area is also a nice lighted area for people to hang out at night in the summer. The rose garden with the fountain is also pretty when in season, but a bit small. The best part of the fens is the Victory gardens. It’s a great idea to let people rent plots to garden… especially in the city with limited space.
My dog loves this place and it allows me to walk her around greens instead of on cement sidewalks. However, I think the Commons is just bigger and better…

Everyone hears that the Fens is terrifying their freshman year. Eventually you go, many times, and realize that it’s perfectly fine, and just like everywhere else is worse at night.

The Fens is one of my favorite places in the whole city. It’s close to my school and close to my apartment, so it’s great for getting away between classes, or after school for a run.
This place is stunning in the fall — there are leaves of every color. I love running here because I get so distracted by the beauty that I forget I’m even doing a dreadful, tiring movement with my body.
There’s a couple of paths, some bridges to walk over, a memorial in the center, and a football/​soccer field with a track around it.
It’s a scenic way to move between neighborhoods and a great place to just stroll! The only reason I deducted a star is the nighttime safety. I’m not sure if it’s 100% accurate or not, but at Northeastern orientation, we were warned 40 times over not to go into the Fens at night. I guess it can be pretty dangerous.

The skinny: It’s a great place for sport events with large groups, but the view isn’t all that great.
My school hosted an «olympics» here where we do various sports events and duke it out between the grade levels. There were at least 100 people here on a Sunday morning and it was pretty awesome.
The park is big enough that there’s space for everyone to do something with plenty of room. We had basketball, baseball, pie-​eating, and soccer going on in various parts of the field and everyone was really accommodating Passerbys could see this was a school event and some of them stayed and watched us and some simply moved to another part of Fens to do their workout. At no point did anyone seem upset or angry that we were taking up a baseball field and a basketball court and we only stayed for a few hours. There’s also a community garden for those interested to grow something healthy and local and I thought that was adorable! :))
Downside: The park isn’t that great for «views» though. I’d recommend the parks in Jamaica Plains for that (think Emerald Necklace!). Because of heavy use and so many events and sports done in all parts of the park, there are dry patches and places where rain and sprinkler water pools over onto the side walk etc. However, for being right in the middle of the city, it’s a really nice asset to have for those needing a quick escape or a change of scenery from the Esplanade.
GO OUT AND BE OUTDOORSY PEOPLE! Run/​bike everywhereeeee

The Fens are wonderful! Ignore the ignorant who think anything outside the suburban blanket of homogenized cleanliness is dangerous.
This park is a treasure trove of discoveries and delights. An Olmsted project, you may discover the «old Roman bridge», the sole Redwood, the Victory Gardens and Muddy River. Urban dwellers should take advantage of all the city parks we have available or like they planned in the 1960s, the Red Sox might just buy up park space for a parking lot.

After work (when it’s still light out) this has been such a great place to do laps to get a few miles of running in outside. There’s a track near by, part of it has quaint bridges, paved and gravel side walks, streams, ponds, college students out walking, and even some parts that dip into the trees just enough to forget you’re in a city for a few minutes. Really a small work of art — and lots of fun to see change with the seasons. This is one of the many reasons I love working in the fenway area.
Fun fact: this is also why the fenway station is so named — it’s by the fens… as opposed to the stadium. It is fun to watch the confused tourists get off the train and get really annoyed that they should have just stayed on for one more stop.

(score 1 – 100) — 69.
Uniqueness factor: No tourists! A park that in many areas you can have to yourself. Maybe you need to a photo shoot for a school project? Maybe you want a natural background for your wedding pics? Maybe you want to streak for the first time? The Fens is your place!
The Kelleher Rose Garden is one of the secret Gems of the city that would make for a great reception area for a wedding or maybe you needs some pictures in a garden area for a back ground shot. The Rose Garden is really beautiful in the summer time and can provide a unique backdrop without all the craziness of the Public Garden.
I’ve never been through here at night and I’ve heard some certain things go on at night but I just don’t see it as an unsafe area. Women may have a different take on the safety factor but I have never witnessed unsavory characters or witnessed anything that could potential happen.

4 stars for a nice space on a nice day
–1 star for the goose poop everywhere/​the creepiness factor at night

The most beautiful part of The Back Bay Fens
is the Kelleher Rose Garden… OH, THE AROMA!
Every rose bush and trellis features a plaque,
stating it’s name and personality.
BEST DEAL: Attend the annual, Summer «Rose Garden Party»
to catch all the roses in full bloom… and the best hats in Boston.
I was gifted an «Honorable Mention» Hat Contest Winner (Lynn Julian)
adorned with my own creation, which was made from a Schiaparelli hat base.

Pretty walk from NEU to Fenway Park. Lovely setting…

Where to begin?
For such a small space, there really is a lot to do and see in the Back Bay Fens!
I lived across from the basketball court area of the park for five years, and I can say with certainty, I’ve really done it all in the park (well, not THAT — we’ll talk about that later!).
We can start where Boylston Street meets Park Drive, across the street from Fenway Park’s Ted Williams Statue. Here, you’ll find the Victory Gardens (planted during WWII to help promote community and provide food for war families) — betcha didn’t know you could rent your own little plot for $ 30 a season? Did it.
The Gardens make for quite a lovely and leisurely stroll during the high season in the summer. Pick your path — but as many have pointed out, stay further from the reeds at dusk. YES gay men do have romping drugged sex in there all the time. As evidenced by the used condoms and empty booze bottles adorning my garden plot each morning I’d return. Thanks guys.
We can go clockwise, towards the Back Bay area, where the Fens runs along a string of apartments on The Fenway, some owned by NU, some private apartments. Keep in mind, there is an upper and lower level here. Don’t miss the great playground at the bottom! As we continue, we come upon the MFA. Now that the back is done up all pretty, you’ve got a beautiful view of her rear façade and the [creepily] mesmerizing giant baby head fountains as well as the Japanese Rock Garden.
Keep going and we come upon a selection of the Colleges of the Fenway — Wentworth, MassArt and MCPHS. Continuing, we pass the Isabella Stewart Gardiner Museum (sadly, I never went before leaving Boston — don’t let this happen to you!) and a little bit of Simmons and Wheelock.
The park turns sharp right, going backwards along Park Drive’s one-​way traffic before coming up to the recently renovated playing fields. Here, you’ve got an almost ¼ mile rubberized running track which encircles an astroturf football/​soccer field abutted by two baseball fields. The improvements here were vast — this playing area used to be a muddy, gravely excuse for a park. And now! Glorious. It is enclosed by two sides of bleachers and at one end, two basketball courts (also refreshed).
Continuing forward, we will enter the Kelleher Rose Garden — beautiful and yummy (time it right though, or you’ll miss the roses!) and the War Memorial (be sure to stop and pay your respects). There’s also a small pond behind these two attractions — a nice stop off to watch the ducks and geese.
Going just a little further ahead, we pass an open grassy area (great for games like frisbee or reading a book under the shade of the many great trees) and then come to the intersection of Park Drive and Aggasziz Way, before reaching our starting point at the Victory Gardens.
Paved and gravel paths wind throughout this entire park and many a park bench and trash can are available for use. There are two bridges for crossing the Muddy River, about 300 feet apart towards the middle of the park.
Relatively safe, very clean and extremely bountiful, the Back Bay Fens really has something for everyone and I miss it dearly!

I love the Back Bay Fens because I have a victory garden there. So I’ve started spending much more time there than I have in years past. (Side note: did you know the Back Bay Fens was originally built as a way to deal with sewage problems in the area? I’m sure that smelled awesome.)
There are always creepy characters hanging out near the reeds, but they generally tend to ignore me which is for the best. I’m not sure if I’d want to hang out here at night though.
Make sure to also check out the Kelliher rose garden and the war memorials. I think those are some of Boston’s hidden secrets.

Yes, the gays have sex in the reeds. You may not be aware of this if you are a straight woman. Shocker. It’s not like you’ll trip over dudes doing the dirty dirty on the paved paths, but if you traverse the reeds you might find a homophobic elected official giving a beej or two.
And you may get mugged whilst wandering through the Fens at night. I get like 5 public safety alerts per week about it through Simmons. But you also might get mugged in Beacon Hill. I’ve never felt unsafe walking around in the Fens, though I usually do so during the day. It’s quite lovely and peaceful, like a Secret Garden in the middle of a cement and siren reality. I always thought that book had a little something it was hiding. Maybe that garden had a bunch of reeds the author neglected to mention…

I’m a bit surprised that the back bay fens is capable of being reviewed, but obviously, I feel obligated to judge it as well. Unilocal continues to surprise me.
I don’t know who started that whole «gay men rendezvous here» rumor but as a 4^th year Northeastern student, I have yet to discover any of this said nonsense, even during late nights. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed any sketch-​like activity occurring in the Fens, unless you consider college freshmen smoking some pot to be frightening.
I personally love the Fens. Its the perfect running trail that kind of takes you away from the whole living– in– the– city vibe. It touches 3 – 4 different schools, so its a safe place, despite what others may say. There’s tons of different trails to run along and some nearby places (such as my school’s gym) even pass out maps of the running trails so you can decide the distance you want to go and how to accomplish that. There are also lovely gardens to walk by, and its the best short cut when heading to Fenway.
Overall, one of my favorite places to run in Boston (besides the Charles). Just watch out for massive amounts of geese poop.

I read all these reviews and noticed none of them were from a gardener in the Fens. My fiancé and I have owned a garden for 3 years now in the Fens and we love it. I’d like to mention that the gardeners are very aware of the crime related to the area, and our newsletter frequently addresses it and encourages ideas for securing the area. Unfortunately, part of the reason more lights aren’t added is because of how it would disrupt the plants.
I don’t feel it should stop you from visiting at all, all of the writers are absolutely right that it’s wonderful and safe place to visit during the day. In the evening, staying on the path along the road is safer.
Just last week Paul and I were at the garden and he turns the corner with a wheelbarrow and two people behind him. They were visitors from Canada and wanted to see what vegetables we were growing and to know more about the garden history. It’s a great community with a lot of nice people who love showing their gardens or speaking about them. During the Fall there is also Fens Fest, which is a community outreach event that’s family friendly and really fun.
A previous review mentioned how the variety of gardens resonates with the people of Boston, it’s true. Our neighbor’s is completely different from ours! It’s absolutely worth a stroll on a sunny day down any of the little bark pathways to see how people landscaped theirs or what they planted.
Paul runs around the Fens every day, it’s a great running path. Sometimes I see people fishing, and there’s always people playing sports. When the Rose Garden is in bloom it’s gorgeous and smells so wonderful. It’s worth a visit to see a part of Boston history and a taste of the residents who made ‘backyards.’

It is very pretty and has great potential. But the police and the park rangers better clean this mess up… soon.
Nice for a walk, a little picnic, maybe some people watching, that is if you like to watch. There are a few little gardens in between. They also offer you a little three by three plot for your own garden. Those are quite funky and very fun to look at.
Rollerblading –ehh, the roads are not that great.
Jogging — yep. Most likely will be running the hell away from the dudes who will offer you crack, meth and other recreational enhancements.
I would say that you are better off going here during the day. It is very sketchy at night. By sketchy I mean, I have seen way to many man doing it in the bushes, near the water, on the bench… etc. We’ve been offered crack, meth, exctasy, pot and blowjobs. Well, not me, but my male counterparts have been offered to come to the bushes for a little boy fun.
Yeah, be careful. There is a lot of hazardous materials on the ground (goose poop, needles and used condoms)

This is more than mere park. This Fenway residents’ oasis has lot to offer even if you don’t live in the neighborhood. And it has served me good with many purposes.
— Wind sprint around the track til I puked (it was lactic acid threshold training)
— Entertaining my mom by taking her to the rose garden and Victory Garden.
— Playing softball and basketball.
— Lazy Sunday picnic with girlfriend
— Jogging around the entire U shaped park along Park Dr and The Fenway.
Whatever your interest or objective maybe, you can always find yourself enjoying this park. To me, this park is far better than The Common *AND* Public Garden combined.
Do you quickly get bored with hanging out at the park and need to be entertained? There’s Fenway 13 movie theater right there like The Common is to Lowes Theater!
Walking through Rose Garden and/​or Victory Garden inspires you to be more sophisticated or aristocratic? Then haul your ass to Isabella Gardner Museum or MFA. They are located right outside of the park!
Did you forget to bring something to picnic? Shaw’s is 5 mins away!
Or simplely, hungry? There are good number of good restaurant near by (Burton’s Grill, Cambridge 1, Church, Canestaro, and it would be even better if those burnt down restaurants get rebuilt).
Did a softball drill in your head? Longwood medical area is right there!
I think this «pahk» is the best in Boston!
P. S. Run along the track at your own risk when someone is playing softball. Keep your eyes on the ball or it might hit you like artillery.

The most hilarious place EVER.
I went one evening with a friend, we are both males, and we only went because we knew what would happen, but we didn’t believe it. SO SO SO SHADY!!!
Never go alone if you want to just walk, youll get groped, raped, stalked etc. So I am sure the fens are pretty during the day, but ew, the piles of used cum rags all over the place is just not that pretty. You can walk through the maze through the tall reeds only to happen upon 2 guys going at it. Oops sorry fellas! We were followed by at least 8 guys, some hot most not, and you can see them pairing off and hiding in the tall grasses.
We basically held each other tight walking through this mess and would totally do it again for the thrill, this is why I gave it a 5!

Hmmm… it seems the previous reviewers didn’t know or didn’t mention why this is a place to stay away from at night – it’s for GAY SEX.
Had always heard about ‘The Fens’ thru friends or thru my bored moments at work (moments being all day long) where I flip between Unilocal and Craigslist. If you surf the M4M missed connections page, you’ll be sure to find LOTS of sex stories where two or more dudes hooked up on a tree or in some reeds and want to meet up again.
Leaving Machine on Friday night with fellow Unilocalers Katie, Daniel, and Tarah… I mentioned I had never been to The Fens. All of a sudden, we’re walking down the street and entering the point of no return. My lovely Unilocal friends forced me to walk ahead of them to basically «see what happens.» I’ve mentioned before and I’ll mention again I have a TERRIBLE irrational fear of zombies… and I felt surrounded by them as dozens of men lurked around staring me/​us down. Walking along the paths, you’ll be sure to see guys laying on the ground, standing right outside shrubs, or you can hear twigs snapping from inside the reeds.
This was definitely an experience I’ll never forget. I think my favorite part was when Daniel took me in for a 2^nd tour of the park and forced me to walk on some path thru the reeds and toward the water. Suddenly he gets hit in the face by a hanging vine and almost falls, I freak out and notice I’m sinking into the mud (whilst wearing my lovely J Crew flip flops), and lastly look to my right and see two dudes lurking in the reeds right next to us. WE RAN. And not a moment too soon since as soon as we got back on the road, a police cruiser came flying in (THRU the park) with its spotlight and megaphone ordering people to zip up and go home!
Come here during the day if you like parks. Come here at night if you like rando same sex male hook ups… or if you’re curious to experience the national geographic special that this place is. Oh, and there are vegetable gardens that people rent plots to grow their own stuff… well…FYI…the men seem to enjoy using your pumpkin patches too so be sure to wash your vegetables. And my feet are still dirty even after 4 showers.