Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top parks in Boston. Here's a rundown of top businesses in the city, with ratings, photos and more.

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top plant nurseries in Cambridge. Here's a rundown of top businesses in the city, with ratings, photos and more.

Looking for great parks in Cambridge? Here's a rundown of top businesses in the city, with ratings, photos and more.

Shark sightings increase exponentially off Cape Cod beach, as great white sharks and hammerhead sharks draw closer to the shore.

Rhode Island residents witnessed a sudden surge in bat encounters, resulting in hundreds receiving postexposure rabies vaccines. Experts have been exploring the cause of the uptick.

Despite multiple attempts, territorial wasps remain in Ashland's Montenegro Square, but what is behind their strange, aggressive behavior?

As Cape Cod grapples with a disturbing number of dolphin strandings, an innovative new rescue center in Orleans may hold the key to turning the tide.

After months of struggling with health issues, Kamaia, the beloved 14-year-old lion at Franklin Park Zoo, has been humanely euthanized, leaving the zoo community and his brother, Dinari, to mourn the loss.

Boston's gardening enthusiasts rejoiced as Mayor Wu announced this year's winners of the coveted Mayor's Garden Contest, commending their efforts in beautifying the city's neighborhoods.

A lightning strike at Dorchester's Savin Hill Beach left a woman, who was out walking her dog, fighting for her life. The pup Bruce, who fled in fear, has been found and returned home to the woman's family.

A Connecticut couple on a scuba diving trip off Rhode Island rescues a baby shark entangled in a work glove, calling attention to the ongoing issue of underwater trash affecting marine life.

Manatee spotted in Rhode Island's Quonochontaug Pond sparks excitement among locals and prompts close monitoring from officials to ensure the safety of the rare visitor.

Cambridge unveils new Triangle Park, featuring an urban forest and unique design elements to boost the city's tree canopy and create a haven for residents and visitors.

Two dolphins were rescued from a shallow river off Cape Cod by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, demonstrating the importance of continued efforts to protect and preserve marine life.

Mayor Michelle Wu announced an $11 million grant obtained by the City of Boston.

Invasive spotted lanternfly infestation spreads to Wellesley, Massachusetts, threatening local agriculture and economy.

Surfers encounter great white shark in Cape Cod. The public is urged to report sightings via the Sharktivity app for safety.

Friends of Hobart Park lead a volunteer tree planting initiative, aiding urban greenery in Brighton and sparking community bonding.

An endangered North Atlantic right whale was found dead, entangled in rope off Martha's Vineyard, highlighting the species' dire situation. NOAA and other organizations plan a necropsy.

A gray whale, believed extinct in the Atlantic, was spotted by researchers from the New England Aquarium near Nantucket, suggesting climate change is altering migration patterns.

Massachusetts sees a growing black bear population, now over 5,000 strong. This includes conservation efforts and research on bear health and patterns.

Cambridge has activated waterplay features in public parks to help families cool off during the heat, with a map available online for locations, although a couple of parks are currently closed for repairs.

Salisbury Beach is set to receive $1.75 million from the state for dune restoration to combat erosion and prepare for future storms. The project is part of a larger $6 million coastal resilience strategy.

The 2024 Boston Parks and Recreation Summer Program Guide is now available, offering a variety of free events including concerts, art classes, and sports leagues for all ages.

Boston's Mother's Rest Park in the Four Corners neighborhood reopens after a $1.99 million renovation, featuring new play areas and amenities for community use.

Edna V. Bynoe Playground in Roxbury undergoes a $1.12 million renovation, adding a splash pad and new play equipment, in honor of the community leader Edna V. Bynoe.

Mayor Michelle Wu celebrated the opening of the renovated McGann Playground in Hyde Park, Boston, with features like new equipment, a splash pad, and sustainability additions.

Mayor Michelle Wu celebrated the renovation of the Clarendon Street Play Area in Boston, featuring new play equipment and additional trees, emphasizing the role of community engagement in the park's development.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu opens Bike Town, a safe space for kids to learn cycling and road safety, in Moakley Park as part of a city-wide initiative to improve family-friendly amenities.

DCR and Girl Scout Councils of Massachusetts team up for a weekend event offering tailored programs for Scouts to earn nature-based badges, with free parking at state parks on September 14-15.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced the expansion of Sherrin Woods Urban Wild with a new 1.01-acre lot, acquired for $510,000 through eminent domain, signifying a community victory in preserving green space.

The Joro spider, an East Asian species, has been sighted near Boston's Massachusetts State House, marking its most northern appearance yet. Experts say the large, colorful spider is harmless to humans.

A Massachusetts judge issued a restraining order to keep Nibi the beaver at Newhouse Wildlife Rescue amid a debate over the animal's release into the wild.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has approved the Franklin Park Bear Dens' transfer to the Parks Department, aiming to revitalize the historic site with community input.

Kitombe, a senior gorilla at Boston's Franklin Park Zoo, will undergo a medical procedure due to serious health issues, including a cough and weight loss.

Flour Bakery is set to operate the Boston Common Concession Pavilion from spring 2025, as announced by Mayor Wu and the Boston Parks Department, highlighting a commitment to local business and community in the historic park.

Boston city officials and community members celebrated the groundbreaking for Ryan Playground's $25 million renovation, which includes a flood prevention berm and upgraded facilities.

A young female humpback whale washed ashore dead in Massachusetts, the sixth such stranding in six months, with causes still under investigation by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

Boston Parks and Recreation Department offers free activities during February school vacation, including sports clinics, a snowshoeing safari, animal meet-and-greets, and a children's festival.

The DCR is launching construction projects in Boston to enhance outdoor spaces in Mattapan and Hyde Park, including upgrades to the Edgewater Greenway, Kennedy Playground, Ryan Bathhouse, and Doyle Park.

Brood XIV cicadas are set to emerge in Massachusetts after 17 years underground, with their loud buzzing and benign nature toward trees and humans. Specialists discuss potential climate change impacts on their cycles.

The first great white shark of the season was spotted off Nantucket, Massachusetts, confirmed by a seal attack. Beachgoers are advised to be 'shark smart' for safety.

Cicadas have emerged on Cape Cod after 17 years underground, and researchers at WHOI are studying them as indicators of mercury pollution in the environment.

Rare manatee spotted in Mashpee, Massachusetts, first sighting in nearly a decade, drawing local attention and concern for the animal's well-being in the cool New England waters.

Boston unveils new cricket fields at Harambee Park, with Mayor Wu and local Caribbean community members celebrating the $2.4 million upgrade that includes floodlit competition field and practice area.

The SHADE project in Sennott Park, led by teens, created a multifunctional space for socializing and mental health support, featuring a "Halo" light for safety.

Massachusetts faces an invasion by the Spotted Lanternfly, an insect that threatens over 100 plant species and is present in over 50 cities. The MDAR encourages management efforts to curb its spread.

Boston Mayor Wu and parks officials announced a major renovation of Chandler Pond, with completed phase one focusing on ecological improvements and shoreline stabilization.

Codman Square Park in Dorchester was revitalized with a $1.1 million investment, featuring climate-resilient and accessibility upgrades and introducing a new sculpture reflecting cultural diversity. Mayor Michelle Wu inaugurated the renovated park.

Boston's "Boston Blooms with Daffodils" initiative offers 15,000 free daffodil bulbs to community groups for citywide planting. Registration closes September 28; pick-up is October 28 and November 4.

Boston's Walsh Playground has been renovated with a $4 million investment, adding new sports courts and a splash pad, and celebrating its reopening with local officials and the community.

Boston's Chinatown introduces above-ground tree planters as a greening solution due to sidewalk and utility constraints, backed by the City's Urban Forestry Division and Office of Climate Resilience.

The Boston Parks and Recreation Department revives its Forever Young Program to offer indoor winter activities for the city's seniors, promoting fitness and social engagement.

Boston's Parks Department announces school vacation week activities, including sports clinics, stable visits, snowshoeing, and a Winter Festival with free activities.

After a bobcat was seen near Deerpath Road, Dedham animal control urged residents to seal crawl spaces, cap chimneys and avoid feeding wildlife.

A black bear was filmed on a Waltham home's Ring camera standing on a deck. State wildlife officials advise removing bird feeders and securing trash as bears emerge from dens.

Mayor Cathleen DeSimone unveiled a plan to convert Capron Park Zoo into a nature reserve and wildlife‑rehabilitation center, prompting debate at recent city meetings. Officials say more planning and approvals are required.

Backers told a State House hearing the Nature for All plan would redirect sporting‑goods tax revenue into an estimated $100M annual conservation fund.

A Beacon Hill proposal would reclassify migrating barrier beaches as Commonwealth land, widening public access while raising the prospect of costly legal fights.

Photos and video show a black bear wandering through a Shirley backyard. State wildlife officials urge residents to remove feeders and secure trash.

Two teens from Plymouth were rescued from Mount Washington's summit Saturday after harsh weather and an injury left them stranded. Officials say they were brought inside by a park employee and driven down via the Auto Road.

Tufts found multiple anticoagulant rodenticides in a female bald eagle near Arlington, renewing pressure for state limits on powerful rat baits.

A Brookline dog walker was circled by three coyotes Tuesday night; neighbors and police helped and no injuries were reported.

A coyote was filmed trotting along Causeway Street near TD Garden in broad daylight. Officials urge hazing, securing pets and reporting any aggressive behavior.

A January Interior directive is prompting managers to roll back hunting limits at dozens of park units, from Cape Cod to Jean Lafitte, drawing cheers and warnings. Officials say safety closures remain but implementation is already underway.

Auburn police warned neighbors after a bear was seen on Marilyn Drive, urging removal of feeders and secured trash to keep wildlife away. Simple yard steps can reduce encounters.

Grafton police warn of increased black bear sightings in North Grafton and urge residents to remove bird feeders and secure trash to prevent habituation.

A young black bear was darted on Walnut Street near Routes 9 and 20 and transported after sightings at the 1000 Boston Turnpike plaza; officials say it was likely recently separated from its mother.

A dead gray seal with a large bite washed ashore at Lucy Vincent Beach; experts say the marks match a great white — the first confirmed this season off Martha's Vineyard.

A shark reported in multiple sightings across Rhode Island waters was found dead Monday; researchers and state officials are investigating while reminding the public about beach safety.

Drone footage and a new study show dusky sharks feeding on seals off Nantucket. Scientists urge beachgoers to avoid areas where seals or bait are present this summer.

After nearly three years and roughly $19 million, Copley Square's renovated plaza reopens with new paths, shaded seating and a refurbished fountain.

A video captured Thursday shows a black bear roaming near a Worcester high school, renewing concerns as bears expand across central Massachusetts.

A bobcat was spotted near North Broadway and Lake Street in Haverhill over the weekend. Officials and wildlife experts urged caution and to report sightings.

Warming Gulf of Maine waters are drawing juvenile sea turtles into Cape Cod Bay, forcing the New England Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital to treat hundreds. Volunteers and vets are stretched as rehabilitations stretch into months.

Cape Cod seashore and shark groups are staffing beach tables and posting safety reminders for World Cup visitors, urging people to avoid seals, swim in groups and use detection tools. The outreach aims to keep risk low while letting fans enjoy the beaches.

A Nantucket angler briefly hauled a great white onto the surf — roughly 8.5–9 feet and 300 pounds — then released it back to sea.

A Cambridge resident was surrounded by a flock of wild turkeys in footage that circulated online. City officials say don’t feed the birds and offer steps to discourage aggressive behavior.

Franklin Park Zoo opened Penguin Coast on June 11, adding endangered African penguins and an expanded Serengeti Crossing as part of a $21M conservation-focused overhaul.

State regulators have barred heavy shark‑fishing tackle along Cape Cod Bay and the Outer Cape and banned remote bait devices to protect swimmers and sharks.

A 20-year-old Massachusetts hiker collapsed on Mount Monadnock on Saturday; Good Samaritans began CPR but he was later pronounced dead. Officials say the medical examiner will determine the cause.

A MAER team freed a young humpback trapped in fishing rope off Stellwagen Bank. Responders cut the lines and stayed with the whale until it swam away.

A roughly 12‑foot white shark breached within about 150 feet of Long Point Beach in Provincetown as Sharktivity and researchers logged multiple Cape Cod sightings.

Beverly police say a coyote attacked a dog near the Fox Hill trail; officers found a den with pups and urged residents to keep pets leashed and avoid dens.

Lifeguards at Curley Beach posted warnings after multiple jellyfish stings; officials urge caution as lion's mane jellies wash ashore.