Bordered by Beacon Hill, the Boston Public Garden and downtown Boston, Boston Common is the oldest public park in the USA. Its history began in 1634, when the area was designated a common pasture, military purposes and public hangings. Today Boston Common mainly serves as a public recreational park. This most famous of Boston parks is pastoral in English style which is characterized by a very open character and informal layout.

Both the Boston Common and Boston Public Garden are part of the city’s so-called Emerald Necklace. The Necklace is a series of connected parks that make up a network including other several fantastic Boston parks such as the Esplanade, the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, the Back Bay Fens, Olmstead Park, Jamaica Park, Arnold Arboretum and Franklin Park.