MEASURES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE:
The case of The Boston Indicators Project

INDICATOR DEVELOPMENT

In developing the original indicators “architecture,” more than 300 Bostonians from diverse sectors, neighborhoods, levels of government and racial/ethnic groups participated in working sessions over two years to conceptualize, develop and then narrow lists of proposed indicators and measures.  Many others helped to find and format relevant data.

A draft of the report was released at a 1999 Boston Citizen Seminar, hosted by Boston College and co-sponsored by the Boston Foundation, the City of Boston, Boston 2000 and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.  Mayor Thomas M. Menino gave the keynote address, highlighting the usefulness of the indicators as a way to measure progress.  The Mayor’s address was followed by a panel of civic leaders discussing major issues facing the city. 

Then, with 25 facilitators drawn from the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Action for Boston Community Development, and many other organizations and institutions, 250 participants engaged in deliberation at their tables about the future of the city and the region. 

The draft report was subsequently distributed to an additional 700 residents, public agency staff, academics, and civic and community leaders for a year of review and comment, while suggestions were incorporated, charts and maps reworked, and data gathered and updated as feasible.

(*adapted from www.bostonindicators.org)