50 signatures reached
To: Mayor Michelle Wu, District 6 City Councilor Ben Weber, and the Boston City Council
Protect the Arboretum
PETITION: Protect the Arnold Arboretum with an Ironclad Shadow Law
The Goal
We, the undersigned residents of Boston and supporters of public green
spaces, call upon Mayor Michelle Wu, District 6 City Councilor Ben Webe, and the Boston City Council to introduce and pass a City of Boston ordinance protecting trees in the Arnold Arboretum and a Home Rule Petition establishing a permanent, state-level Shadow Law for the Arnold Arboretum.
We further call upon State Representative Samantha Montaño and State Senator Liz Miranda to champion and pass this legislation at the Massachusetts State House.
Why This Matters
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is a world-renowned scientific institution, a historic urban sanctuary designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and a critical anchor of Boston’s urban tree canopy. It belongs to all residents of Boston as a vital public resource for health, climate resiliency, and environmental equity.
However, the Arboretum is under direct threat from encroaching, high-density private developments on its perimeter.
- Zoning Fails to Protect It: Current local zoning rules and the Greenbelt Overlay District are routinely bypassed. Developers frequently secure variances and exceptions from the Zoning Board of Appeal, allowing them to build mid-rise structures right against the park boundary.
- Shadows Threaten the Ecosystem: Unlike a standard park, the Arboretum houses an irreplaceable living collection of rare trees and plants. New, permanent shadows cast by oversized private buildings starve these trees of daylight, threatening their survival and degrading the public park experience.
- Precedent Exists: Boston has already proven that precious public parks require state-level legal shields. For over 35 years, the Boston Common and Public Garden Shadow Laws have successfully protected downtown parkland from being plunged into darkness by private skyscrapers. The historic Arnold Arboretum deserves that exact same permanent, ironclad standard of safety.
We can balance smart urban density with conservation—but we must draw the line at starving our public trees of the sunlight they need to survive.
Our Demands to Boston and Massachusetts Leadership:
- City Legislation and a Home Rule Petition: We request that the Boston City Council and Mayor Michelle Wu formally petition the state legislature to enact an explicit shadow-restriction zone around the Arnold Arboretum.
- State Legislation: Aligned with the City of Boston Home Rule Petition and existing legislation protecting the Boston Common and Public Garden.
- Implement Structural Protections: Any proposed building within a designated buffer zone must prove via verifiable 3D shadow modeling that it will not cast new shadows on the Arboretum's historic collections.
- Prioritize Community Over Variances: Stop the piecemeal erosion of our park boundaries via zoning variances. Give the Arboretum a permanent legislative shield.
Sign the Petition Today to Keep the Canopy Alive!
Why is this important?
Why This Matters
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is a world-renowned scientific institution, a historic urban sanctuary designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and a critical anchor of Boston’s urban tree canopy. It belongs to all residents of Boston as a vital public resource for health, climate resiliency, and environmental equity.
However, the Arboretum is under direct threat from encroaching, high-density private developments on its perimeter.