Parks come to life as locals share personal stories and memories in film by Igor Kharitonenkov.  Featuring stories from JP locals!

Boston, MA - “Stories from the Emerald Necklace,” a local documentary by Igor Kharitonenkov exploring the historic Emerald Necklace park system through the voices and stories of park visitors, will have its television premiere on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011 at 4:30 PM on the Boston Neighborhood Network (BNN) Community Channel (Comcast channel 23, RCN channel 83) with additional broadcasts as listed below. The film will also stream on the web at www.bnntv.org. You can also view individual stories on Neighbors for Neighbors here.

BNN will broadcast “Stories from the Emerald Necklace” at these times:

• March 2, 4:30 PM
• March 5, 1:00 PM
• March 8, 11:00 PM
• March 10, 2:30 AM
• March 16, 3:00 PM
• March 20, 8:30 AM
• March 21, 9:30 PM
• March 24, 2:30 AM
• March 30, 3:00 PM

“Stories from the Emerald Necklace” brings to life the diverse experiences of nine individuals as they share their stories. “I see the Emerald Necklace as an escape of natural wonder in an otherwise densely populated metropolis,” says “Stories” creator Igor Kharitonenkov, “Through the stories of park visitors, we are invited to witness the diversity of activities taking place throughout these parks. We discover the strong connections between people and their parks.”

Storytellers include Mark Lowenstein, author of “Great Runs in Boston,” whose appreciation of the scenic linear paths fuels a passion for running; Nora Lutz, a musician who brings together family, friends, and neighbors to play music at Jamaica Pond on Sunday afternoons; Marilyn Rodriguez, who revisits fond childhood memories of friends and relatives gathering at Franklin Park to play in the Hispanic Baseball League; Roger Gottlieb, a professor and community activist who shares an excerpt from his book “A Spirituality of Resistance: Finding a Peaceful Heart and Protecting the Earth," recounting a time when city dwellers united to save Jamaica Hills from housing developments; Bob Nesson, a documentary filmmaker and producer of the “Muddy River Chronicles,” who describes a lifelong connection to the Muddy River and an eventful canoe trip; and members of the Green Team, who explain how the Emerald Necklace Conservancy's summer youth program in the parks has helped them form new friendships, experience exciting outdoor adventures and take on new levels of responsibility.

The Emerald Necklace is the only remaining intact linear park system designed by America’s first landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. It stretches from the Back Bay Fens to Franklin Park, connecting the Riverway, Olmsted Park, Jamaica Park, and Arnold Arboretum. It is listed on the National Register for Historic Places.

Individual clips from “Stories” can be viewed online on the Emerald Necklace Conservancy website at http://emeraldnecklace.org/storiesproject/ and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/TheEmeraldNecklace#p/u/1/UKL7tU8twaM.

“Stories from the Emerald Necklace” is an original production by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and was supported by funding from the NLT Foundation and Wendling Charitable Trust.