The Boston Landmarks Commission has decided that the Charles River Esplanade should be evaluated for recognition as a city landmark. Ten city councilors and roughly 850 city residents signed a petition seeking the designation.
The state Department of Conservation and Recreation, which manages the park, has proposed using a portion of the Esplanade as a roadway to handle traffic while a Storrow Drive tunnel is reconstructed. Landmark status would force the state to seek the commission's approval for any proposed changes to the parkland.
The landmarks commission will now conduct a study to determine whether the park warrants landmark status and to outline the parameters for its preservation.
But the study could take some time: The commission must reopen its priority list for reviewing projects, and then the report would take at least three months to develop. If the commission approves it, the mayor has 15 days to veto a decision and the City Council has 30 days to approve or veto it.
During this week's commission meeting, a DCR spokesman praised the Esplanade as a cultural asset but stopped short of calling for its designation as a landmark.
Richard Sullivan, DCR commissioner, said yesterday that he has not abandoned the notion of using the Esplanade as a detour during construction.
"We haven't taken anything off of the table," Sullivan said.
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