Spectacle Island

Twenty years ago, Spectacle Island was a smoldering open dump with contaminants leaching into Boston Harbor. Today, it is a popular 105-acre park with extensive trails, 360-degree views of the City and surrounding islands, and a swimming beach. The need to both clean up the Harbor and dispose of 3.5-million cubic yards of excavated material from the Big Dig lead to the island’s rebirth as a new gateway to the 34 islands in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park.

BRR did the grading and planting that now stabilize the topsoil over the landfill cap and the fill that was brought to the island. Thousands of trees were planted to keep the topsoil base in place and control erosion from storm winds and waves. Plants attractive to birds promote natural habitat and self-seeding. Plants such as bayberry, sumac, blackberries, blueberries, viburnums, evergreen windbreaks, beach grasses, and wildflowers continue to flourish.