Poplar Gate

Project Overview

Poplar Gate, a beloved entry point to the Arboretum’s Peters Hill landscape, has long served as a vital connection between the Arnold Arboretum and the diverse communities that border its perimeter, particularly those identified as Environmental Justice Neighborhoods. As part of the Arboretum’s sesquicentennial Entrance Improvement Project launched in 2022, and designed with Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates, the renovation will enhance accessibility for visitors, improve commuter connectivity, and open the gate visually and horticulturally by bringing elements of the Arboretum’s plant collections to this threshold. In alignment with Harvard University’s sustainability commitments, the plan reduces paved surfaces, increases plantings, and improves active transportation access, while the City of Boston has committed to additional improvements to the interior road extending from Poplar Gate, including restoring its cobblestone gutters. According to Director William (Ned) Friedman, these renovations are not only about upgrading infrastructure, but also about building community, strengthening ties with surrounding neighborhoods, and fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world in a more inclusive, welcoming, and beautiful environment.

Project Updates:

• Ground breaking August 2024
• December 2024 gate is temporarily opened for the winter
• Project completion August 2025

Entrance Goals

• Open center gate to pedestrian access to create a more welcoming entrance
• Restore historic cobblestone swales along Peters Hill Road
• Realign existing stone wall to create a more inviting entrance and improve circulation from Bussey Street
• Add bench seating