What We Do

What We Do

WalkMassachusetts (founded in 1990 as WalkBoston, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) advocacy organization), makes walking safer and easier in Massachusetts to encourage better health, a cleaner environment and more vibrant communities. We have a vision of a Massachusetts where people walking – no matter their race, identity, age, ability, or lived experience – feel safe, connected, and valued on our streets and sidewalks. Our small, committed staff work as a team to make change: whether it’s getting a crosswalk painted in a neighborhood or influencing Massachusetts state policy to make streets safer for all. Key to our effort is the value we place in Community, Equity, and Partnership.

  • Community: We believe in the power of community. Walkable places foster community spirit, vibrancy, and health. Our advocacy is community driven and community empowering.
  • Equity: We embrace an inclusive definition of walkability that accounts for the lived experiences of all people. We prioritize working in places that have experienced historic disinvestment.
  • Partnership: WalkBoston never works alone. We partner with community members, local non-profits, municipal and state agency staff, and elected officials to achieve common goals.

As the first pedestrian advocacy organization in the country, for over 30 years WalkMassachusetts has been an industry leader and cutting-edge advocacy organization. As an innovator in the walkability field, WalkMassachusetts has helped pass legislation and write pedestrian design manuals; created walks, maps and wayfinding systems; led the nation’s first Safe Routes to School program; promoted healthy living campaigns; and publicized the economic value of good walking environments for business success. We’ve used tactical urbanism and social media to tell people’s stories to help make changes to street design, policies, and to drive public sentiment for projects.  After over 30 years of statewide advocacy as WalkBoston, conversations with partners and community members across the state, and a new Strategic Plan, we changed our name to WalkMassachusetts. Learn why.

There is still much work to be done. Some of the current projects highlighted from our most recent Annual Report include: 

  • A video series that is currently being piloted in Worcester to train community leaders on how to lead walk audits and implement change as part of the Walk Audit Academy project.
  • Collaboration with GreenRoots’ Caminatas Seguras to not only create safe and welcoming routes to parks in East Boston, but also ensure that residents feel welcome in their local parks. 
  • Working with the Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at Brigham & Women’s Hospital on an innovative project to engage hospital injury prevention professionals (IPPs) in pedestrian advocacy. 
  • Working with MassINC on our Gateway Cities project to not only improve pedestrian safety and access, but to consider the quality of each downtown’s social infrastructure – the physical infrastructure that fosters community connections and a sense of belonging.     
  • The release of a statewide pedestrian crash report, which took a closer look at fatal crashes from the previous year and investigated patterns found in publicly available data. Going forward, this annual report will serve as a tool for advocates to identify areas where they can make an impact.

WalkMassachusetts is committed to better understanding, identifying, and undoing the racist processes and policies that lead to inequities in the walking environment for communities of color across the Commonwealth. We are deepening our engagement in meaningful program and organizational strategies that lead with racial justice. WalkMassachusetts is actively seeking to build a diverse staff and board. We encourage multiple perspectives and experiences, support a multicultural environment, and strive to hire and retain a diverse workforce and board that reflects the populations we engage with and the communities where we work.


Pedestrian safety

Reduce the number of walkers killed / injured statewide.

Walkable communities 

Engage & build community through walk audits, workshops, & advocacy training.

Age-friendly walking

Adopt policies and practices that increase safety for children and older adults.

Transit connections

Promote safe walking connections to transit statewide.

Walking policy & design

Influence projects, policy, and legislation on local, state, & national levels.