Recuperating Mayor Staying at Parkman House

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino hopes finally to be back living at his Hyde Park home in the next 10 days. Menino has been staying at the Parkman House on Beacon Street since being released from Spaulding Rehab on Dec. 23.

Menino chose to stay at the city-owned property because of its proximity to Boston City Hall and Spaulding Rehab, while he continues twice-a-day physical rehabilitation. The Parkman House at 33 Beacon St. has an elevator, which is better for the 70-year-old mayor while he recuperates from a bad back, said Emilee Ellison, Mayor's Office spokesperson.

Late in 2012, Menino was hospitalized for two months with a combination of ailments from a viral infection, a back fracture and then diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.

But Menino is feeling better and recently attended the announcement of Converse moving its headquarters to Boston.

On Wednesday, the mayor held a press conference from the Parkman House, declaring a public health emergency in the city of Boston because of a severe outbreak of influenza.

"He said he feels better than he does today than in the last nine months," Ellison said. "He hopes to be home in the next 10 days. He’s just been working on regaining all the strength in his legs after his extended stay in the hospital."