Riverside Greenway

Background: At the dawn of the 20th century, train and trolley lines processed Boston’s increasingly urbanized population affordable access to the Riverside Recreation Grounds and a stretch of the upper Charles River between Newton and Weston known as the Lakes. On busy weekends, over 5000 canoes a day were launched in the Lakes District and visitors enjoyed swimming in the largest spring-fed swimming pool in New England. in the Greater Boston area residents have long enjoyed active, outdoor leisure activities along a stretch of the upper Charles River between Newton and Weston known as the Lakes District.  The invention of the automobile disrupted these recreations pastimes and the construction of the interstate highway system – the I-90 turnpike and Route 128 – in  the mid 20th Century cut off access to the river. Today, a resurgent interest in greenways and passive recreation is fueling and effort o reclaim a lost legacy. In 2016, the Riverside Greenway Working Group formed a public private partnership with the state, the city, and a private developer. They gained crucial support from the MassTrails program and the federal Recreational Trails program as well as the Solomon Foundation. The complexity of this undertaking is matched by the incredible dedication of all partners who are all working together to advance this shared effort.