Charles River Greenways
The Charles River travels eighty miles from its source through twenty-three towns and cities, shaped by human activity all along the way, some of that harmful to the health of the river – such as the construction of dams that have slowed the water’s flow and factories (and even an abbatoir) that have dumped their refuse in the river or allowed wastewater to enter the water through underwater pipes or seepage of pollutants through the ground. Fortunately, in more recent years, many efforts have been made to create green spaces or beautify areas along the river’s banks that had been despoiled by human activity, not only for recreation and relaxation by urban dwellers, but to improve the condition of the river’s water. These green areas of grass and foliage provide Nature’s own filtration system for rainwater and runoff from pavement, allowing the water to travel through plants and soil, before reaching the river. This use of natural filtration was part of the Blue Cities program initiated a few years ago by the Charles River Watershed Association, and it continues today with programs developed by the Charles River Conservancy, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and The Esplanade Association, collaborating with neighboring towns and cities, sometimes funded in part by foundations and contributions.
Following are descriptions of projects that have been completed or are in the process of development.
The Greenway completed in 2004 that extends from Watertown Square into Waltham and Newton is a six-mile semipermeable pathway for pedestrians and cyclists across a boardwalk over part of the wetland area and the graceful Blue Heron suspension footbridge connecting Waltham and Newton. Along the way are several small stones engraved with images of plants and animals that are native to this green corridor. (See if you can locate some of them.) At the beginning of the trail in Watertown Square is a stone with an image of an Algonquian Native American fishing among the rocks in what was many years ago an estuary teeming with anadromous fish, including bass, salmon, and river herring that would migrate to the fresh water of the river to spawn each spring.
The construction of the first dam on the river here in 1634 was the beginning of a long series of changes in the river, including the gradual filling in of the estuary over the years and the building of more dams and factories. Continuing on the path after the stone with the engraved image of the Native American will bring you to a small wooden platform where various birds are frequently diving for fish next to the Watertown Dam.
Today restoration has begun on a section of the river previously referred to as “Hell’s Half Acre” near the Eliot Bridge in Cambridge, the last remaining wetland in the greater Charles River Basin from Watertown to Boston, seen by many in the past as an overgrown swamp that was sometimes used for dumping by construction workers and neighboring residents. While many have often regarded marshes as unpleasant, swampy areas, these land forms absorb runoff from man-made walkways and roads, especially during rainfall, filtering the groundwater as it moves through undergrowth and tree roots. It is also worth noting that the wetland area that fills with water like a sponge during the wet season also “gives back” moisture during warm and dry periods, contributing to the health of the neighboring waterway. In the late 1970s, the Army Corps of Engineers along with the Charles River Watershed Association set aside eight acres of wetland in the Upper Charles to act as a “buffer” zone in the Upper Charles River, absorbing heavy rainfall rather than “allowing” all of it to move downriver with increasing volume and force.
During the road-building of the 1950s and 60s we referred to in a previous blog, Greenough Boulevard was constructed along the wetland area, a four-lane roadway extending from Arsenal Street (Watertown) to the busy intersection of Route 2, Memorial Drive, and Mt. Auburn St., (including the two-block long Gerry’s Landing Rd.). Since that time, the width of the once controversial boulevard has proven to be unnecessary given the small amount of traffic that uses it. Now a special project is underway to revitalize the riparian area along Greenough, actually narrowing the road to provide more space for pedestrians and bikers. The Department of Conservation and Reservation funded by the the state and a group of foundations, including the Solomon Foundation that supports Boston’s parks and greenways, along with many organizations and individuals, has begun work on this new Greenough Greenway parkway. The mile-long tree-lined path adjoining Herter Park and encircling the marsh will provide better views of the wetlands and the river while connecting to West Cambridge with a pathway leading to Fresh Pond. Completion of the project is slated for next spring (2016).
Another restoration project along the Charles is the Watertown Riverfront between Watertown Square and Beacon Street, linking Boston, Newton, and Watertown neighborhoods along a three-mile area of the river, with improvement of the riverbank, new access points and outlooks, and a “sensory trail” for partially sighted individuals.
In Boston the Charlesgate Greenway project will reconnect the Charles River basin and Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace, a connection that was lost with the construction of Storrow Drive and the Bowker Overpas.
As these and many other park projects continue, the health of the river is enhanced at the same time that people’s lives are improved by having pleasant green spaces for relaxation and recreation.
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