The Greenway Carousel
I ride this carousel as often as I can when I visit Boston. Walking through the city often leads us to historical places, but I also enjoy making time for something simply because it brings me joy. The Greenway Carousel has become one of those familiar stops I look forward to.
Opened on August 31, 2013, the carousel was created specifically for the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Its animals reflect the creatures of Boston’s land, waters, and skies: lobsters, harbor seals, cod, foxes, turtles, butterflies, and other unexpected companions for a ride. Massachusetts artist Jeff Briggs brought these characters to life using drawings and ideas contributed by Boston schoolchildren.
The project began with a lead gift from Amalie Kass, who wanted to bring lasting enjoyment to the children of Boston. Community meetings helped shape the plans, and a suggestion from her young grandson encouraged the organizers to ask children what they would like to ride. Their imaginations became an essential part of the design, turning familiar local wildlife into colorful carousel creatures.
There is something especially appealing about a public place shaped by children’s ideas and an artist’s ability to give them form. The carousel invites us to notice the animals around us, enjoy their imaginative details, and take a few minutes to play.
For me, it has become part of visiting Boston—a familiar pleasure that I am happy to repeat.
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