Little Brewster Island (Boston) Stewardship Study

JLP+D was contracted by Boston Harbor Now to conduct a governance, funding, and stewardship study and create recommendations for the future of Little Brewster Island, one of the most remote and smallest of the Harbor Islands. The island is home to Boston Light, the nation’s oldest lighthouse, in addition to a number of other structures and additional infrastructure.

Both the National Park Service and Boston Harbor Now value continued public access to the island and its rich history, and so were looking for the right model by which to participate in its stewardship moving forward. JLP+D examined national precedents for federal land transfer processes, as well as relevant ownership, governance, operations and maintenance, and funding models. The team also worked with local stakeholders to create a programmatic vision for the island, and synthesized insights to inform a stewardship model and future plan for Little Brewster Island.