The Landscape Architect’s Guide to

John F. Kennedy Memorial Park

Your Guide

The John F. Kennedy Park in Cambridge is located at the corner of Memorial Drive and JFK Street near Harvard Square. For many years, the park site was the home of car barns for the Boston transportation system. Petroleum products dumped there polluted the soil. The soil consultants to Carol R. Johnson Associates, the landscape architects of the park, solved the problem and plants in the park are now thriving.

The park originally sloped toward the north away from the Charles River Reservation. The landscape architects tilted the ground plane so the park would face south and the reservation.

View Sites Nearby

Main Entry in the 80s

In 1987 the main entry from the corner of JFK St. and Memorial Dr. suggests that this is the entry to the Charles Hotel and condominium complex. The main walkway leads to a memorial fountain to President Kennedy. Texts of President Kennedy’s speeches are on the inside face of the park entry gate pillars and the fountain at the center.

Image: Carol Johnson jfk2

A New Environment

In 2012 the same main entry leads to leafy bowers and open green space. The mature trees create a new environment.

Image: Carol Johnson jfk3

Desire Lines

Pedestrian circulation in the park responds to key desire lines to Harvard Square and along the Charles River. The trees along the walks wrap around the open space. Inventive students sometimes tie a tape to two trees and walk the tightrope.

Image: Carol Johnson jfk4

In the 80s, Harvard Dominated

In 1987 the view from JFK Park to the east from the open green space is dominated by Harvard University’s Eliot House.

Image: Carol Johnson jfk5

Now the Green Dominates

In 2012 the same view shows greenery dominates and Eliot House is not a key element. People picnic in the park and use the park walks to get to Harvard athletic events on the opposite side of the Charles River.

Image: Carol Johnson jfk6

An Entry Overshadowed

In 1987 the entry from Harvard Square is overshadowed by buildings and doesn’t give a strong sense of entering a memorial park.

Image: Carol Johnson jfk7

Now, a Clear Route

In 2012 the park entry from Harvard Square with its allee of mature Halka honey locusts is clearly the route to the Memorial Park and fountain.

Image: Carol Johnson jfk8

A New Berm

Carol R. Johnson Associates raised up the north side of the site so the site is oriented south. This required building a berm outside the lower level of the Kennedy Institute.

Image: Carol Johnson jfk9

A New Focus

The re-grading of the site strengthens the focus on the Memorial Fountain and the view of the Charles River Reservation.

Image: Carol Johnson jfk10

Reading Kennedy

The fountain attracts children. Some may read the speeches of Kennedy over which the water flows. A nearby bronze plaque has the speeches in Braille for blind visitors

Image: Carol Johnson