Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston
Encyclopedia
The Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston is a system of reservations, parks, parkway
s and roads under the control of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in and around Boston
that has been in existence for over a century. The title is used by the DCR to describe the areas collectively: "As a whole, the Metropolitan Park System is currently eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places", as outlined on the department's website. The DCR maintains a separate Urban Parks and Recreation division to oversee the system, one of five such divisions within the department—DCR's Bureau of State Parks and Recreation manages the remainder of Massachusetts state parks. Direct design and maintenance functions for the parkways and roads within the system are provided by the DCR Bureau of Engineering.
The park system consists of coastal reservations and beaches including Revere Beach
, river reservations along the three major rivers in the area, such as the Charles River Reservation
, and woodland reservations exemplified by Blue Hills Reservation
south of the city. In addition, parks focusing on local history are located in Lynn
and Roxbury. The DCR also manages a system of parkways which serve to connect the urban public to the open spaces; among these are busy streets such as Jamaicaway in Boston as well as secluded park roadways in uninhabited areas such as the Blue Hills Reservation Parkways
.
, a Boston newspaper writer and city planning enthusiast. Eliot had apprenticed with Frederick Law Olmsted
and later assumed leadership of Olmsted's design firm in 1893. Olmsted had been responsible for the development of Central Park
in Manhattan
and with Eliot had worked to create Boston's Emerald Necklace
, a string of connected parks and waterways. Eliot was instrumental in the founding of The Trustees of Public Reservations (now The Trustees of Reservations) and the public Metropolitan Parks Commission in the 1890s and envisioned an expansion of the parks network to areas surrounding Boston.
The original Metropolitan Park Commission appointed by the legislature
in 1892 consisted of Charles Francis Adams, Jr.
, Philip A. Chase and William B. de las Casas. The commission hired Baxter to serve as secretary and Eliot as landscape architect. The first five areas acquired by the commission for the system in 1893 were the Beaver Brook
, Blue Hills
, Hemlock Gorge
, Middlesex Fells
and Stony Brook Reservation
s. By 1900, the system had expanded to include several constructed or planned parkways and added beach reservations at King's Beach
in Lynn, Nantasket Beach
in Hull
, Quincy Shore
, Revere Beach
, and reservations along the Charles, Mystic and Neponset Rivers.
In 1919, the commission was renamed the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) after merging with the Metropolitan Water and Sewer Commission. Through the next 80 years the MDC became increasingly politicized and known as a haven for political patronage
. Following a series of failures within the commission resulting in the pollution of Boston Harbor
in the 1970s, the City of Quincy sued the MDC and the separate Boston Water and Sewer Commission
in 1982, charging unchecked systemic pollution of the city’s waterfront. That suit was followed by one by the Conservation Law Foundation
and finally by the United States Government, resulting in a landmark court-ordered cleanup of Boston Harbor. The lawsuits forced then Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis
to propose separating the water and sewer treatment divisions from the MDC, resulting in the creation of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
in 1985. Charges of political corruption and patronage continued to follow the MDC, while the loss of revenue from removal of the payments brought in by water and sewer services created a need for increased funding from the state legislature. The situation resulted in calls for the dismantlement of the MDC, which was realized when the MDC was dissolved by legislation in 2003. The Metropolitan Park System and other operations of the MDC were merged with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management to form the current Department of Conservation and Recreation. In 2009, a study concerning the transfer of DCR managed roadways to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation was begun, following the transfer of all DCR non-pedestrian bridges as part of a major transportation reform law enacted that year.
Parkway
The term parkway has several distinct principal meanings and numerous synonyms around the world, for either a type of landscaped area or a type of road.Type of landscaped area:...
s and roads under the control of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in and around Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
that has been in existence for over a century. The title is used by the DCR to describe the areas collectively: "As a whole, the Metropolitan Park System is currently eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places", as outlined on the department's website. The DCR maintains a separate Urban Parks and Recreation division to oversee the system, one of five such divisions within the department—DCR's Bureau of State Parks and Recreation manages the remainder of Massachusetts state parks. Direct design and maintenance functions for the parkways and roads within the system are provided by the DCR Bureau of Engineering.
The park system consists of coastal reservations and beaches including Revere Beach
Revere Beach
Revere Beach is a public beach in Revere, Massachusetts. Located about 4 miles north of downtown Boston, the beach, founded in 1895, is the first public beach in the country. In the past, it was known as the Coney Island of New England...
, river reservations along the three major rivers in the area, such as the Charles River Reservation
Charles River Reservation
The Charles River Reservation is a -long Massachusetts state park located along the banks of the Charles River in Boston, Cambridge, Watertown, and Newton. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation . The portion of the Reservation between the Charles River Dam and the...
, and woodland reservations exemplified by Blue Hills Reservation
Blue Hills Reservation
Blue Hills Reservation is a state park in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, it extends into Milton, Quincy, Braintree, Canton, Randolph, and Dedham south of Boston.-Description:...
south of the city. In addition, parks focusing on local history are located in Lynn
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
and Roxbury. The DCR also manages a system of parkways which serve to connect the urban public to the open spaces; among these are busy streets such as Jamaicaway in Boston as well as secluded park roadways in uninhabited areas such as the Blue Hills Reservation Parkways
Blue Hills Reservation Parkways
The Blue Hills Reservation Parkways is a group of historic parkways in the Blue Hills Reservation. The system was founded in 1894 and designed by Charles Eliot...
.
History
The improvement of areas of undeveloped land, detrimental development, and polluted land in and around Boston for a system of interconnected parks was first conceived and promoted by landscape architect Charles Eliot and Sylvester BaxterSylvester Baxter
Sylvester Baxter was a Boston area newspaper writer and urban planner. In 1893 he became the first secretary of the Massachusetts Metropolitan Park Commission and along with Charles Eliot was a chief force in the development of the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston...
, a Boston newspaper writer and city planning enthusiast. Eliot had apprenticed with Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing...
and later assumed leadership of Olmsted's design firm in 1893. Olmsted had been responsible for the development of Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and with Eliot had worked to create Boston's Emerald Necklace
Emerald Necklace
The Emerald Necklace consists of an chain of parks linked by parkways and waterways in Boston and Brookline, Massachusetts. It gets its name from the way the planned chain appears to hang from the "neck" of the Boston peninsula, although it was never fully constructed.-Overview:The Necklace...
, a string of connected parks and waterways. Eliot was instrumental in the founding of The Trustees of Public Reservations (now The Trustees of Reservations) and the public Metropolitan Parks Commission in the 1890s and envisioned an expansion of the parks network to areas surrounding Boston.
The original Metropolitan Park Commission appointed by the legislature
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
in 1892 consisted of Charles Francis Adams, Jr.
Charles Francis Adams, Jr.
Charles Francis Adams II was a member of the prominent Adams family, and son of Charles Francis Adams, Sr. He served as a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War...
, Philip A. Chase and William B. de las Casas. The commission hired Baxter to serve as secretary and Eliot as landscape architect. The first five areas acquired by the commission for the system in 1893 were the Beaver Brook
Beaver Brook Reservation
Beaver Brook Reservation is a Massachusetts state park located in Belmont and Waltham. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. It was the first reservation established by the Metropolitan Park Commission in 1893.-Description:...
, Blue Hills
Blue Hills Reservation
Blue Hills Reservation is a state park in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, it extends into Milton, Quincy, Braintree, Canton, Randolph, and Dedham south of Boston.-Description:...
, Hemlock Gorge
Hemlock Gorge Reservation
Hemlock Gorge Reservation is a Massachusetts state park located in Newton and Needham. The park is managed by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation .-Description:...
, Middlesex Fells
Middlesex Fells Reservation
Middlesex Fells Reservation, often referred to simply as the Fells, is a Massachusetts state park located in Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, and Winchester...
and Stony Brook Reservation
Stony Brook Reservation
Stony Brook Reservation is a woodland park in Boston and Dedham, Massachusetts, a unit of the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston, part of the state park system of Massachusetts. Located in the southwest of Boston, it extends from the West Roxbury neighborhood into the Hyde Park...
s. By 1900, the system had expanded to include several constructed or planned parkways and added beach reservations at King's Beach
Lynn Shore Reservation
Lynn Shore Reservation is a protected coastal reservation in Lynn, Massachusetts. It includes of beaches and recreational areas. From north to south, King's Beach, Red Rock Park and Lynn Beach are located along Lynn Shore Drive and Nahant Bay, a small bay of the Atlantic...
in Lynn, Nantasket Beach
Nantasket Beach
Nantasket Beach is a beach in Hull, Massachusetts. The shore has fine, light gray sand and is one of the busiest beaches in Greater Boston. At low tide, there are acres of tide pools.-Name:...
in Hull
Hull, Massachusetts
Hull is a peninsula town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,293 at the 2010 census. Hull is the smallest town by land area in Plymouth County and the fourth smallest in the state...
, Quincy Shore
Quincy Shore Reservation
Quincy Shore Reservation is a protected shoreline on Quincy Bay, Boston Harbor in Quincy, Massachusetts. Its primary attraction is a 2.3 mile beach, accessible along its entire length by Quincy Shore Drive...
, Revere Beach
Revere Beach
Revere Beach is a public beach in Revere, Massachusetts. Located about 4 miles north of downtown Boston, the beach, founded in 1895, is the first public beach in the country. In the past, it was known as the Coney Island of New England...
, and reservations along the Charles, Mystic and Neponset Rivers.
In 1919, the commission was renamed the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) after merging with the Metropolitan Water and Sewer Commission. Through the next 80 years the MDC became increasingly politicized and known as a haven for political patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
. Following a series of failures within the commission resulting in the pollution of Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor is a natural harbor and estuary of Massachusetts Bay, and is located adjacent to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is home to the Port of Boston, a major shipping facility in the northeast.-History:...
in the 1970s, the City of Quincy sued the MDC and the separate Boston Water and Sewer Commission
Boston Water and Sewer Commission
The Boston Water and Sewer Commission serves retail customers with water services in Boston, Massachusetts. It purchases water wholesale from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority ....
in 1982, charging unchecked systemic pollution of the city’s waterfront. That suit was followed by one by the Conservation Law Foundation
Conservation Law Foundation
Conservation Law Foundation is an environmental advocacy organization based in New England. Since 1966, CLF's mission has been to advocate on behalf of the region's environment and its communities. CLF's advocacy work takes place in four program areas: Clean Energy & Climate Change, Clean Water &...
and finally by the United States Government, resulting in a landmark court-ordered cleanup of Boston Harbor. The lawsuits forced then Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
to propose separating the water and sewer treatment divisions from the MDC, resulting in the creation of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is a public authority in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that provides wholesale drinking water and sewage services to certain municipalities and industrial users in the state, primarily in the Boston area.The authority receives water from the Quabbin...
in 1985. Charges of political corruption and patronage continued to follow the MDC, while the loss of revenue from removal of the payments brought in by water and sewer services created a need for increased funding from the state legislature. The situation resulted in calls for the dismantlement of the MDC, which was realized when the MDC was dissolved by legislation in 2003. The Metropolitan Park System and other operations of the MDC were merged with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management to form the current Department of Conservation and Recreation. In 2009, a study concerning the transfer of DCR managed roadways to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation was begun, following the transfer of all DCR non-pedestrian bridges as part of a major transportation reform law enacted that year.
Parks and reservations
The following table lists parks and reservations currently owned and maintained by the DCR Division of Urban Parks and Recreation, subdivided into sections based on environment as stated by the DCR, with year of formation, location within municipalities, site area and primary activities listed:| Metropolitan parks and reservations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal | ||||
| Municipalities | acres (hectares) | Activities | ||
| Belle Isle Marsh Belle Isle Marsh Reservation Belle Isle Marsh Reservation is a Massachusetts state park located in East Boston. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.-Description:... |
1985 | Boston | 241 (241 acres (97.5 ha)) | Hiking, Scenery |
| Boston Harbor Islands Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area situated among the islands of Boston Harbor of Boston, Massachusetts. The area is made up of a collection of islands, together with a former island and a peninsula, many of which are open for public recreation and some... |
1970 | Boston, Hingham, Quincy, Weymouth | 404 (404 acres (163.5 ha)) | Boating, Camping, Fishing, History, Picnicking, Scenery, Swimming, Walking |
| Castle Island | 1962 | Boston | 22 (22 acres (8.9 ha)) | Fishing, History, Picnicking, Scenery, Swimming, Walking |
| Dorchester Shores Dorchester Shores Reservation Dorchester Shores Reservation is a Massachusetts state park located in Boston. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. It consists of three areas totaling along the eastern edge of the Dorchester section of Boston.-Description:... |
1988 | Boston | 41.3 (41.3 acres (16.7 ha)) | Fishing, Picnicking, Swimming |
| Fort Revere Park Fort Revere Park Fort Revere Park is an historic site situated on a small peninsula located in Hull, Massachusetts. It is situated on Telegraph Hill in Hull Village and houses the remains of two seacoast fortifications, a water tower with an observation deck, a military history museum and picnic facilities. It is... |
1988 | Hull | 8 (8 acres (3.2 ha)) | Events, History, Scenery |
| Lynn Shore Lynn Shore Reservation Lynn Shore Reservation is a protected coastal reservation in Lynn, Massachusetts. It includes of beaches and recreational areas. From north to south, King's Beach, Red Rock Park and Lynn Beach are located along Lynn Shore Drive and Nahant Bay, a small bay of the Atlantic... |
1896 | Lynn | 22 (22 acres (8.9 ha)) | Biking, Birding, Fishing, Playing Fields, Swimming |
| Nahant Beach Nahant Beach Reservation Nahant Beach Reservation is a protected coastal reservation in Nahant, Massachusetts. It includes of beaches and recreational areas. Nahant Road, called Nahant Beach Boulevard when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, offers access to Long Beach on the Atlantic Ocean... |
~1900 | Nahant | 66.5 (66.5 acres (26.9 ha)) | Boating, Fishing, Playing Fields, Swimming |
| Nantasket Beach Nantasket Beach Nantasket Beach is a beach in Hull, Massachusetts. The shore has fine, light gray sand and is one of the busiest beaches in Greater Boston. At low tide, there are acres of tide pools.-Name:... |
1899 | Hull | 26 (26 acres (10.5 ha)) | Biking, Swimming, Walking |
| Quincy Shore Quincy Shore Reservation Quincy Shore Reservation is a protected shoreline on Quincy Bay, Boston Harbor in Quincy, Massachusetts. Its primary attraction is a 2.3 mile beach, accessible along its entire length by Quincy Shore Drive... |
1899 | Quincy | 86 (86 acres (34.8 ha)) | Biking, Fishing, Picnicking, Running, Swimming, Walking |
| Revere Beach Revere Beach Revere Beach is a public beach in Revere, Massachusetts. Located about 4 miles north of downtown Boston, the beach, founded in 1895, is the first public beach in the country. In the past, it was known as the Coney Island of New England... |
1896 | Revere | 84 (84 acres (34 ha)) | Fishing, Picnicking, Playground, Swimming |
| Rumney Marsh Rumney Marsh Reservation Rumney Marsh Reservation is a Massachusetts state park located in Saugus and Revere. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation .-Description:... |
1992 | Saugus | 600 (600 acres (242.8 ha)) | Birding, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking |
| Webb Memorial State Park Webb Memorial State Park Webb Memorial State Park is a Massachusetts state park located on a peninsula that extends nearly half a mile into the Hingham Bay area of Boston Harbor. It is composed of three connected drumlins and a low marsh area... |
1977 | Weymouth | 36 (36 acres (14.6 ha)) | Canoeing, Picnicking, Scenery, Walking |
| Weymouth Back River Weymouth Back River Reservation Weymouth Back River Reservation is a protected coastal reservation in Hingham and Weymouth, Massachusetts. It contains parks on the west and east sides of the northern end of Weymouth Back River: Abigail Adams Park on the west in Weymouth and Stodder's Neck on the east in Hingham... |
1987 | Hingham, Weymouth | 35 (35 acres (14.2 ha)) | Birding, Fishing, Hiking, Soccer |
| River | ||||
| Alewife Brook Alewife Brook Reservation Alewife Brook Reservation is a Massachusetts state park located in Cambridge, Arlington, and Somerville. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.-Description:... |
1906 | Arlington, Cambridge | 120 (120 acres (48.6 ha)) | Birding, Hiking, Playing Fields, Running, Tennis |
| Charles River Charles River Reservation The Charles River Reservation is a -long Massachusetts state park located along the banks of the Charles River in Boston, Cambridge, Watertown, and Newton. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation . The portion of the Reservation between the Charles River Dam and the... |
1896 | Boston, Cambridge, Dover, Needham, Newton, Watertown, Wellesley, Weston | 870 (870 acres (352.1 ha)) | Athletic Fields, Boating, Canoeing, Concerts, Running, Sailing, Tennis, Walking |
| Chestnut Hill Chestnut Hill Reservation Chestnut Hill Reservation is a Massachusetts state park surrounding the Chestnut Hill Reservoir located in Allston/Brighton neighborhood of Boston... |
2002 | Boston | 120 (120 acres (48.6 ha)) | Fishing, History, Swimming Pool, Skating, Walking |
| Cutler Park Cutler Park Cutler Park is a park in Needham, Massachusetts that runs between Route 128/I-95 and the Charles River. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation .-Description:... |
1962 | Dedham, Needham, Newton | 700 (700 acres (283.3 ha)) | Hiking, Picnicking |
| Elm Bank | 1995 | Dover | 182 (182 acres (73.7 ha)) | Birding, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Museum |
| Hemlock Gorge Hemlock Gorge Reservation Hemlock Gorge Reservation is a Massachusetts state park located in Newton and Needham. The park is managed by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation .-Description:... |
1895 | Needham, Newton | 23 (23 acres (9.3 ha)) | Hiking, Picnicking |
| Mystic River Mystic River Reservation The Mystic River Reservation is a publicly owned nature preserve located along the Mystic River in Massachusetts, United States. It forms part of the Mystic River Watershed, and runs through the towns of Arlington, Medford, Somerville, Everett, and Chelsea.... |
1896 | Arlington, Everett, Medford, Somerville | 396 (396 acres (160.3 ha)) | Biking, Boating, Hiking, Rowing, Running, Sailing, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis |
| Neponset River | 1896 | Boston, Canton, Milton | 750 (750 acres (303.5 ha)) | Birding, Boating, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking |
| Pope John Paul II Park Pope John Paul II Park Reservation Pope John Paul II Park Reservation, also known as Pope Park, is a Massachusetts state park located in Dorchester. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation... |
2001 | Boston | 66 (66 acres (26.7 ha)) | Birding, Hiking, Kayaking, Running, Soccer |
| Squantum Point Park Squantum Point Park Squantum Point Park is a park located on the Squantum peninsula of Quincy, Massachusetts. It is located on the site of the former Squantum Naval Air Station. All that remains of the former air station is part of a runway which runs for 2,700 feet.... |
2001 | Quincy | 25 (25 acres (10.1 ha)) | Birding, Canoeing, Inline Skating, Running, Scenery |
| Woodland | ||||
| Beaver Brook Beaver Brook Reservation Beaver Brook Reservation is a Massachusetts state park located in Belmont and Waltham. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. It was the first reservation established by the Metropolitan Park Commission in 1893.-Description:... |
1893 | Belmont, Waltham | 59 (59 acres (23.9 ha)) | Baseball, Birding, Hiking, Picnicking |
| Blue Hills Blue Hills Reservation Blue Hills Reservation is a state park in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, it extends into Milton, Quincy, Braintree, Canton, Randolph, and Dedham south of Boston.-Description:... |
1893 | Braintree, Canton, Milton, Quincy, Randolph | 7,000 (7000 acres (2,832.8 ha)) | Camping, Fishing, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Skiing, Swimming |
| Breakheart Breakheart Reservation Breakheart Reservation is a Massachusetts state park located in Saugus and Wakefield. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.-Description:... |
1934 | Saugus, Wakefield | 640 (640 acres (259 ha)) | Biking, Fishing, Hiking, Skiing, Swimming |
| Hammond Pond Hammond Pond Reservation Hammond Pond Reservation is a protected woodland park in Newton, Massachusetts. It features Hammond Pond fishing, hiking trails and formations of sandstone conglomerate and Roxbury puddingstone which are popular for rock climbing.... |
1938 | Newton | 59 (59 acres (23.9 ha)) | Fishing, Hiking, Rock Climbing |
| Middlesex Fells Middlesex Fells Reservation Middlesex Fells Reservation, often referred to simply as the Fells, is a Massachusetts state park located in Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, and Winchester... |
1894 | Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, Winchester | 2,575 (2575 acres (1,042.1 ha)) | Canoeing, Fishing, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Skiing |
| Quincy Quarries Quincy Quarries Reservation The Quincy Quarries, in Quincy, Massachusetts, were the site of the first railroad in the United States and produced granite for over a century. The quarries are now open to the public as a recreation area.-History:... |
1985 | Quincy | 22 (22 acres (8.9 ha)) | Hiking, Picnicking, Rock Climbing, Scenery |
| Southwest Corridor Park Southwest Corridor Park Southwest Corridor Park is a linear urban park in Boston, Massachusetts, part of the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston and managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation... |
1987 | Boston | 52 (52 acres (21 ha)) | Basketball, Biking, Tennis, Walking |
| Stony Brook Stony Brook Reservation Stony Brook Reservation is a woodland park in Boston and Dedham, Massachusetts, a unit of the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston, part of the state park system of Massachusetts. Located in the southwest of Boston, it extends from the West Roxbury neighborhood into the Hyde Park... |
1894 | Boston, Dedham | 475 (475 acres (192.2 ha)) | Baseball, Biking, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming Pool, Skating Rink, Tennis |
| Wilson Mountain Wilson Mountain Reservation Wilson Mountain Reservation is a protected woodland park in Dedham, Massachusetts. It features hiking trails, open space and a summit view of the Boston skyline, and is an important wildlife preserve. At , it is the largest remaining open space inDedham.... |
1995 | Dedham | 213 (213 acres (86.2 ha)) | Birding, Hiking |
| Heritage | ||||
| Lynn Heritage State Park Lynn Heritage State Park Lynn Heritage State Park is a history-themed heritage park in downtown Lynn, Massachusetts. It includes a visitor center with exhibits highlighting the industrial past of the city, featuring traditional shoemaking as a handicraft and its transition to mechanization... |
1990 | Lynn | 4.2 (4.2 acres (1.7 ha)) | History, Scenery, Walking |
| Roxbury Heritage State Park Roxbury Heritage State Park Roxbury Heritage State Park is a history-themed heritage park in the oldest part of Roxbury, a former town annexed in 1868 by Boston, Massachusetts. It is anchored by the Dillaway–Thomas House, a large colonial structure built in 1750 and thought to be the oldest surviving house in Roxbury... |
1992 | Roxbury | 2.2 (2.2 acre (0.8903092 ha)) | Architectural History, Community Programs, History |