About Boston Harbor Island Alliance

Boston Harbor Island Alliance Celebrates Season Opening

Everyone is Invited to Send Off Volvo Ocean Race from the Islands

(Boston, MA) –Boston Harbor Island Alliance celebrates the season opening of the Boston
Harbor Islands national park area by inviting everyone to Georges Island to watch the Volvo
Ocean Race depart Boston for Galway, Ireland on Saturday, May 16. A short twenty-minute
ferry ride to Georges Island and visitors will have a spectacular view of the fleet of magnificent
sailing vessels as they resume the race.

Saturday’s Volvo Ocean Race is just one of many opportunities to enjoy on the Harbor Islands
this summer. Boston Harbor Island Alliance provides an entire summer season of free programs
for people of all ages to experience this treasured national park area. Families can enjoy a clam
bake on Spectacle Island, nature hikes, fishing, concerts on Georges Island as well as many other
activities. The ferry departs daily from Long Wharf at the Long Wharf Marriott Hotel, adjacent
to the Christopher Columbus Park. To view a full list of programming for 2009, visit
www.bostonharborislands.org.

“The City of Boston is fortunate to have this terrific natural resource in our backyard,” said
Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “Year after year, Boston Harbor Island Alliance has offered
activities for Boston’s residents and visitors to explore these beautiful islands just minutes from
downtown. As we mark the opening of the 2009 season, I hope every Boston resident and visitor
takes advantage of this amazing natural resource and visits the islands.”

“Whether to enjoy a hike with a park ranger, a day at the beach, or one of our many programs,
the Boston Harbor Islands national park area provides a perfect opportunity to be outdoors close
to home,” said Tom Powers, President of the Boston Harbor Island Alliance. “But don’t take my
word for it. The next time you’re looking for a quick get-away, come to the islands and
experience their beauty, cultural richness, and history for yourself.”

The Boston Harbor Islands national park area features 34 island, encompassing 1,600 acres and 35 miles of undeveloped ocean shoreline----all within 10 miles of downtown Boston. With its many natural and cultural attractions, the park offers visitors unparalleled opportunities for play and learning in an outdoor setting. www.bostonharborislands.org 617-223-8666

Boston Harbor Island Alliance's mission is to promote public awareness and use of the Boston Harbor Islands national park area by creating vibrant spaces, facilities, and programming on the islands, raising and managing the public and private resources necessary to do so. www.islandalliance.org 617-223-8672