In the late 19th Century, Frederick Law Olmsted, the "Father of American Landscape Architecture," designed a system of interconnected parks to ring the city of Boston that has come to be known as the Emerald Necklace. Originally the system was supposed to entirely circle the city from the Charles River all the way to Dorchester Bay. Unfortunately the last leg from Franklin Park to the Bay was never completed, but what we do have is a jewel of a park system starting with the Fens in the Fenway, along the Muddy River, to Jamaica Pond, the Arnold Arboretum, and lastly Franklin Park. Our hike will start at the Jamaica Pond Boathouse, along the Muddy River, into the Fens, and will end at the Tenshin-en Japanese Garden behind the Museum of Fine Arts, for a total of approximately 2.5 miles. Please note that this is an urban park system that borders some rather busy major Boston thoroughfares, and that at several points we will have to cross these busy streets. Also note that there will be several places in this hike where participants can opt out, but please inform the leader if you choose to do so. We hope to end this hike by lunch time, with plenty of time to make the GO Annual Celebration at 4:30 p.m. Please also note that given the exposure to the elements, inclement weather will cancel this event.