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Newton Park and Conservation Lands
LOCATION: South Newton
Location
and driving directions on Google Maps for entrances at:
Nahanton Street Winchester Street
MBTA: Route 52 Directions from Green Line
Newton Conservators trail map (Buy a copy of our trail guide)
Other maps and aerial
photos: Newton Assessor Bing USGS
Friends of Nahanton Park map
Connects to: Helen Heyn Riverway
Nearby: Cutler Park
SIZE: 57 acres
LONGEST WALK : 0.7 miles
ACQUIRED: 1900 and 1980
ADMINISTERED BY: Parks
and Recreation
FEATURES:
The park includes riverfront, community
garden plots, meadows, wooded hillsides, wild blackberry bushes,
wetlands, a pond, and an open plateau
overlooking the river valley. The park is used for walking, jogging, canoe launching,
fishing, field games, kite flying, picnicking, nature study, cross-country
skiing, sledding, and birding. The park is known to attract
birders who come from far and wide to observe uncommon
birds, particularly during spring and fallmigration.
In 2010, Charles River Canoe & Kayak opened a rental facility in the park.
 ACCESSIBILITY:
Florrie's
Path, a handicapped-accessible path along the Charles River,
starts by the nature center
building where many summertime programs for children are held.
HISTORY:
| 1890s |
Boston Catholic
Archdiocese conveyed 58 acres to Working Boys Home Corp. |
| 1900s |
City purchased
25 acres on Winchester Street from Burney Estate for an infirmary
and farmland. |
| 1962 |
58 acres used
as novitiate by Xaverians. |
| 1964 |
Welfare Department
absorbed by MA state. |
| 1968 |
Parks and Recreation
developed south half. |
| 1980 |
City purchased
32 acres from Xaverian Brothers with partial reimbursement from
Urban Self-Help Program. |
ADVOCATES & CARETAKERS:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Natural Resources Inventory and Management Plan (Mass Audubon Society, 2011)
Study done,
now it's time to work
Birding in Nahanton Park, by Alison Leary
Charles River Canoe & Kayak
On the Charles.com (kayaking and canoeing information)
Bird News from Nahanton Park blog
Photo gallery
Use of the park for dumping snow and Christmas trees in 2011
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