The Boston Park Rangers serve the public in the tradition of "park keepers", an idea conceived by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of landscape architecture and the designer of Boston's Emerald Necklace park system.

In 1982, The Boston Parks and Recreation Department Park Ranger Division was formed as a seasonal program; in 1988 the ranger program became a year-round presence in the park system. Today, the diverse responsibilities of the Boston Park Rangers include park security and safety, visitor services, resource management and interpretive programming. Rangers provide services in the nine Emerald Necklace parks, as well as Boston's historic burying grounds, neighborhood parks and playgrounds.

The ranger staff boasts a variety of professional skills and educational backgrounds, including training in park management, recreation, liberal arts, law enforcement and environmental studies. Trained in first aid, CPR and crisis intervention, the Rangers are ready to respond to any emergency in the parks.

The Boston Park Rangers have three primary areas of responsibility; public assistance, public safety and park protection, and interpretive programming. Each one of these responsibilities encourages the proper use of The Boston Parks through education.