Greenway gets free Wi-Fi

By Casey Ross, Globe Staff

The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway tomorrow is debuting free wireless Internet service that will allow visitors to log on from any point along the downtown park system.

The new network, built by Anaptyx LLC of Watertown, will be accessible from laptops, iPhones, BlackBerries, and other mobile devices, creating one of the largest Wi-Fi hotspots in Massachusetts.

Managers of the park system said the new service is part of a broader effort to increase visitation to the Greenway by introducing an array of user-friendly services, including new food vendors, cafe-style tables, and shaded seating areas.

"It is our job to think about ways we can enhance the visitor experience of the Greenway, and we’re confident this will be an amenity that park users will truly appreciate,” said Nancy Brennan, executive director of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy.

The Wi-Fi service is being provided through the City of Boston's fiber optic network, by tapping access points at City Hall and the fire station near Pearl Street. The conservancy paid Anaptyx $100,000 to install the system, which consists of 15 radios installed along the Greenway from the North End to Chinatown.

The firm donated some of the equipment and a year of network maintenance. It will cost the conservancy $7,000 to $15,000 a year to maintain the network in future years.

Note: The original version of this article misstated the day the free Wi-Fi debuts.