The Landscape Architect’s Guide to

Horatio Harris Park

Your Guide

Kenya Thompson, ASLA

Horatio Harris Park is an idyllic pastoral landscape in an urban setting. Here exists the neighborhood's most elegant and natural display of Roxbury Puddingstone.

In 1852, the site became a public park known as Fountain Square. The square was renamed to Horatio Harris Park in 1916, after the Olmsted Firm made improvements to the site.

Since then, the park has remained largely as it was. Even though this park is primarily made up of rocks and trees, it is quite picturesque. People come to read, stroll, or chat with a friend. It’s a neighborhood park beloved by the community.

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Urban Nature

This park is a safe haven where people can relax and enjoy the city's energy without being overwhelmed by it. It is the complete opposite of Malcolm X Park's hub of activities, which is located only 500 yards up the street.

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Stroll or Sit

Horatio Harris Park is generally passive in function, with a few walking paths. Here you can sit on one of the many benches and take in the beautiful scenery. Most people enter the park through the northwest corner, which has additional seating and a small picnic area.

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Public Art

There is public art in the park - a turtle and two abstract pieces. Small children usually play around these figures and older kids typically use the large puddingstone rocks as play structures.

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Shade Under the Oaks

Oaks are the dominant tree in the park. They make great shade trees, provide beautiful fall color, and are ideal climbing trees.

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Puddingstone Outcropping

The most beautiful example of Roxbury Puddingstone, also known as Roxbury Conglomerate, exists in this park. It is called puddingstone because it looks like stones in pudding. Puddingstone is a natural resource, and outcroppings are found all throughout Roxbury.

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Down Slope

There is a noticeable change in elevation within the park. There is a gradual slope from the outer edges down to the center of the site, creating a cozy valley like setting, closed off from the busy streets.

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Stone Wall

Beside the natural outcroppings of puddingstone and the play sculptures, the only other structure in the park is the beautiful stone retaining wall that surrounds the entire site.

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Neighborhood Texture

Like many of the small parks in Boston, Horatio Harris is surrounded by a residential neighborhood. One of the finest examples of Queen Anne Revival architecture in Boston is the Harriswood Crescent, a historic residential block built in 1890 along Harold Street.

Image: Kenya Thompson