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Newton Park and Conservation Lands

1
  Norumbega Park Conservation Area

LOCATION: Auburndale.

Enter off Commonwealth Avenue, Woodbine Street, or Islington Oval

Location map

Trail map (Buy a trail guide)

Aerial photo

A long walk that includes this park

SIZE: 13 acres

ACQUIRED: 1976

ADMINISTERED BY: Conservation Commission

FEATURES:

Trails wind through a meadow, steep pine and hemlock covered riverbanks, and wooded knoll opening to a scenic view of the Charles River. There are tagged, honorary trees and shrubs in the meadow.

HISTORY:

1897 Old photo of canoeistsPart of Norumbega Park, a 27-acre privately owned park situated at the end of the streetcar line from Boston. The park originally had a deer park, small zoo, popular canoeing facilities, amphitheater, and later the famous Totem Pole Ballroom.
1976 Using state funds, the City of Newton took by eminent domain the 13 acres of old Norumbega Park that remained after the 1969 construction of the Marriott Hotel on the western portion.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Charles River Canoe and Kayak offers rentals from a site near this park.

Canoeing on the Charles is an online exhibit from the Newton History Museum at Jackson Homestead.

An AMC book, Exploring the Hidden Charles, gives information about canoing the Charles River.

The Charles River is an out-of-print book, available from online sellers. It also provides information about canoing the Charles River and hiking near its banks. It includes USGS maps of the entire length of the Charles.

   
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