Boston+Common

 Hieu Nguyen​ // (Copyright, web.mit.edu/sos/BostonCommon, 2009) //  **__Boston Common: __** 
 * __Walking through a serene park in a chaotic city __**

==  A park may be a place to catch a breath of fresh air, a place to bond with your family, or even just a place to be around nature. It is usually known as a large piece of land that “ used for recreation, and often for keeping deer, cattle, or sheep.” All in all the Boston Common serves all purposes. Located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, the “Commons” is the oldest park in the country going back as far as 1634. "It is bordered by Beacon Hill, the Public Garden and downtown." (http://www.aviewoncities.com/boston/bostoncommon.htm)    It is about fifty acres of luscious green grass and home for hundreds of growing trees. Once an abode for Puritan colonists, ground on which “British troops camped on prior to the Revolution”, and lands on which speeches were give by public figures such as Martin Luther Jr. and Pope John Paul II, is now home to some universities' intramural sports (http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/visitor/boston-common.html). Anyone can walk into the park free of charge. There are many stores and shops bordering the “Commons” such as familiar modern places like Starbucks, Burger King, Finagle Bagel, Bank of America, and many other things. Also one side of the Boston Common is Beacon Hill which now is filled with beautiful apartments for the prominent and wealth’s of Boston. Boston Common offers people of all ages and cultures an experience with nature through its well groomed landscape and the sense of stepping onto the grounds in which history has been made there. ==

==  ==  ==Since the Boston Commons is so big it’s hard to take the whole park in at one time and truly soak in the essence of the site. The “Common” is a permanent feature of the Boston. It has been here for centuries and was used as a public place for people to gather together within the town. Not only was this place used for socializing but before it was also was used as a battle grounds for the revolution which is what Boston is known for. “Even as late as the 1890’s many Boston men could remember playing there as boys amid still recognizable earthworks thrown up by British troops.” (Holleran, 122) Upon entering the park, there is a distinct mouthwatering smell of sugar roasted peanuts that takes over the air and fills your nose with a sugary aroma. As the friendly vender passes me the bag of peanuts in the wax paper bag, I instantly feel like I am truly in Boston as I munch on the warm sweet bag of peanuts. As I take each bite, I’m taking my time taking in all the deliciousness this bag has to offer and trying to soak in all the things that Boston has to offer. The “Commons” is grand in size but has many small and different paths and points that you can enter through. As I entered on the Beacon Hill side where a finagle bagel was across just the street, The wind was blowing on the bright shaded trees and beautifully fertilized emerald grass that seems to attract me to come probe the surroundings and see what’s more to this park then just green grass and tons of growing trees. ==

==   ==  ==Standing anywhere in the park in the fall time displays many colorful and illuminating views. The immense park seems to consume you as you walk further and further into the grounds and for that time being you don’t quite feel like your right in the middle of a big hectic city, yet in a serene open area of nature. Autumn shows its’ presence as different shades of green, red, and yellow leaves drape each tree. Depending on when you go, the weather at the “Commons” is always changing because it’s outside. I went on a nice cool day with not much sun but plenty of warmth and fast paced action going on around me. While I was only at a corner where I entered the “Commons”, looking straight ahead into the park, there is a long pathway full of orange leaves, green benches, dwindling trees, and a multicolored hoodie vending cart. The one long, wide pathway is divided into smaller, shorter pathways that split to other places and views of the park. There are over a hundred different paths that lead you to different sections of the park but they all connect to each other with intricate designs. ==

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 ==<span style="color: #f3db20; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">As I walk the paved pathway a vender of hoodie’s tries to sell me one and from there we start trying to compromise on good price. Walking away empty handed, I can’t seem to make out what the ground looks like because it is completely covered with orange leaves and it seemed like an explosion had occurred by the many surrounding trees that hover over the park. Looking to my left lays a jungle gym called Tadpole Playground and right across from that is Frog Pond. These places back in the Puritan times were not used as grounds for recreation but instead used for public hangings and whipping posts (http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/visitor/boston-common.html). As the years pass and the way of life alters, Boston Common became more known as a recreational park and as always, time changes everything and the ground of the park has been laid with jungle gyms and ponds for recreational purposes. The park is now not only known for its history behind it but also a place where people can come hang out and have fun. ==

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==<span style="color: #e71f13; font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> The massive playground heaven is filled with rambunctious children burning off some energy from their sugar high. The parents sit by the benches watching their kids but are also socializing with other parents who are in the same boat. Excited screams, shouting tantrums, and tearful cries from children are a few of the many sounds you hear by the playground. Right across from that is Frog Pond which also provides as a recreation area. In the summer time Frog pond serves as a cool pond for children to swim and for others to dip their feet in. In the winter time Frog Pond is transformed into an ice skating rink where people of all ages come and skate outside with a 360 degree view of the Boston Commons. Since Frog pond doesn’t open until the beginning of December there weren’t many people at Frog Pond. ==

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==<span style="color: #5f2626; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'msoFareastFontFamily;"> To my right lies a huge open space full of grass with trees only bordering the lawn. People usually go there to play flag football, frisbee, or even layout to have a picnic and tan. College students often occupy this space for their school's intramural sports. It is a great spot to soak in some sun. People are there with their blankets and just sit around hanging out with their friends. At some spots there are struggling musicians playing all sorts of instruments just entertaining the park under a big tree. ==

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<span style="color: #2e9eb8; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> ==<span style="color: #2e9eb8; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">The music fills the air and gives you a sense of being someplace else. Every 10 feet you go there is a bench and it’s a great place to just sit, relax, and enjoy the sight. Surprisingly there are a couple of men and women who are in business attire who just sit by the benches and do their work on the laptops. The feeling of being hearing birds and the winds passing through in a serene park gives you a sense of relaxation and focus. There are trees everywhere in sight and since its fall the trees are full of vibrant hues of red, orange, and yellow. Leaves also take up the grounds and cover the pathways. The grounds and grass isn't only taken up by leaves but there are tons of squirrels at every corner. ==

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<span style="color: #808080; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> ==<span style="color: #808080; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">You can hear buses and cars pass by but for the most part the park can be serene depending on the time and day you go. On a weekend it is occupied more because that's when families come out and spend time to bond. Under some trees sit poor people whose job is to sit there and ask for money. They aren’t the only, there are also moneyless teenagers that show up and hang out with their friends free of charge. A lot of couples take romantic strolls through the beautiful path and enjoy the scenic view of the “Commons”. But for the most part it is filled with young muscular boys and athletic girls that come by and play some flag football or Frisbee. Everyday people aren't the only ones that hang out in the park, there are also tourists and people dressed up in Puritan clothes who give tours about the Boston Common which is also the starting point of the Freedom Trail. The tour groups are filled with people from all around the world sparking an interest in learning our cities history. They walk through the whole park and are taken back to the 1800's through the tours. The tours really tell you the whole background and foundation of what Boston is made up. Tourists come from all over the world take these tours because this is what helps them understand more about Boston. The “Common” is used by a lot of locals and just as many tourists. It also represents Boston for those who are not from here because it is the most well known place in Boston for its history, its function, and its people. ==

==<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> The Boston Commons has been here for many decades and it has been used for many different purposes yet it still maintains its true form and history behind it as the years go by. Once a home for the Puritans is now a spot for young people to come and hang out. Anyone from anywhere can come here and feel a sense of comfort. This park, in the middle of a busy city, functions as place that brings people together to enjoy the colorful panoramic views, to burn off some energy in the recreation areas provided, and to just be out walking through the seasonal changes reflected in nature. ==

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==<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">This is a small clip of a 360 view of the place I was standing and observing in the Boston Common. ==

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<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;">1. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Holleran, Michael. //Boston's "Changeful Times": Origins of// //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Preservation and Planning in America //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. Baltimore, MD: The <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">John Hookins University Press, 1998. 122. Print.
 * Works Cited** __

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;">2. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"Boston Common." //A view on cities//. Web. 23 Nov 2009. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><http://www.aviewoncities.com/boston/bostoncommon.htm>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msolist: Ignore;">3. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">"The Boston Common." //The Freedom Trail//. Web. 23 Nov 2009. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/visitor/boston-common.html>.