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Newton Park and Conservation Lands
LONGEST WALK : 5 miles
ACQUIRED: 1962
ADMINISTERED BY: Division
of Urban Parks and Recreation
FEATURES:
The 800 acres known as Cutler Park comprise
the largest remaining fresh water marsh on the middle Charles River.
The marshland of phragmites and the small lake attract over 100
species of birds.
A trail goes around Kendrick Pond (also called
Cutler Pond). A new trail extends from the pond trail and goes to
Powell's Island canoe landing, doubles back and goes under the MBTA
commuter rail and out to the Great Plain. From here a hiker has
two choices. A right turn leads to a boardwalk through a cattail
marsh and ends up on Needham Street in Dedham. A left turn leads
down the wide path alongside the elevated railroad line all the
way to the Charles River. Directly across is Millennium
Park.
After a snowfall the area becomes a fairyland
for cross-country skiing. In summer, there's hiking, canoeing, and
fishing.
HISTORY:
The marshlands, created by flooding from the
Newton Upper Falls Silk Dam, have been used for pasturelands for
hundreds of years. The marshes were tapped from the late 1800s as
watershed well sites. You can see remains of filtering ponds, ditches,
and waterworks.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This park is described in the AMC
Massachusetts Trail Guide.
A portion of the park has been designated as a "core habitat" by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program.
DCR website
Photo gallery
Photos on Flickr ... and more photos ... and more ... and still more
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