Millennium Park is a sprawling roughly 100-acre park in West Roxbury, built on the site of the former Gardner Street Landfill. Reclaimed using fill excavated during Boston’s Big Dig and opened in December 2000 by Mayor Thomas Menino, the park rises to a gentle hilltop that delivers some of the widest open views in the city, taking in the Charles River, the Blue Hills, and surrounding greenery.
The park balances active recreation with conservation. It includes acres of athletic fields, children’s play areas, and paved and unpaved paths popular with walkers, runners, and cyclists, while a canoe and kayak launch gives direct access to the Charles River. Bordering wetlands and meadows make it a notable spot for birdwatching, and the elevated lawns are a favorite for kite-flying and picnics. The site connects to the adjacent Brook Farm conservation land.
Good to know
- Free, city-managed park covering roughly 100 acres on a former landfill
- Includes a Charles River canoe/kayak launch, sports fields, and play areas
- Hilltop offers expansive views and is popular for kite-flying and birdwatching
- On-site parking is available off Gardner Street; trails range from paved to natural surface
Getting there
- Address: 300 Gardner Street, West Roxbury, Boston, MA 02132
- Neighborhood: West Roxbury
- Nearest T: No rapid-transit station is nearby. The MBTA Commuter Rail (Needham Line) and area bus routes serve West Roxbury, but the park itself is most easily reached by car or bike. Check mbta.com for current options.