The Upper Falls Greenway was a project to turn a mile long stretch of abandoned overgrown railroad tracks into a neighborhood park for walking, jogging and bicycling.
The construction started over two years ago and was meant to take just a few months. The contractor pulled up the ties and rails promptly and then the project ground to a halt. For the past two years, the contractor Iron Horse has made endless unfilled promises to finish the project.
The project has been immensely popular in the Upper Falls neighborhood and everyone here in the Falls has grown increasingly impatient and frustrated with Iron Horse’s foot dragging.
At the end of October the Upper Falls Area Council scheduled a meeting about the Greenway project and invited the mayor’s office. Dori Seleznik, the city’s Chief Admin Officer, was scheduled to attend but at the last minute couldn’t. The meeting went ahead anyway and the next day many residents sent emails to city hall voicing their displeasure with the state of affairs.
The following day, the mayor sent a brief one line unambiguous email saying (paraphrased) “project will be done by end of year”.
Since it was then nearly November, and given how long the project had already dragged on, most folks who heard that were extremely dubious that it would really come to pass. A few weeks later various folks in the neighborhood began spotting city work crews on the site coming and going at different times. Heavy equipment began to appear, work began to be done.
It’s now the new year so this afternoon I went for a walk with a neighbor on the new Upper Falls Greenway. I’m delighted to report that it’s nearly completed. Nearly the entire mile long stone dust path has been laid and rolled. Very wisely, they did not finish the top stone dust layer near Tower Rd since they’ll still need to bring heavy equipment in to remove the stacked railroad ties. The handicap access at Chestnut and Oak Streets has also been constructed.
The overlook deck at the Charles River is not officially open yet. Iron Horse cut some corners in the design of the railing and the city needs to do a bit of re-work there. The biggest remaining task is the removal and disposal of the old railroad ties. In the meantime though, the city has done a good job of consolidating all the ties in one place, and stacking them neatly.
There are various planned amenities that will be added to the path but they will wait until springtime. Benches, signs, and an information kiosk are ready to go and will be planted by the Parks & Rec Dept once the warm weather returns. Also waiting in the wings are beautifully restored railroad switches that were refurbished by Newton North students.
In the meantime though, even without the amenities and finishing touches, the neighbors are already using the new park. On our walk this afternoon we passed about a dozen people on the one mile walk – including kids in stollers, old folks, teenagers, and young boys on bicycles.
Congratulations and thanks go to the mayors’s office and the DPW crews for making this happen, to the Upper Falls Area Council for jump starting the project again, to our local aldermen – particularly Deb Crossley who’s recently been working with many of the abutting property owners and most especially to the Upper Falls residents who turned up for the recent meeting, wrote emails and letters and volunteer in various ways to support the neighborhood project.
We were all very dubious back in October when we saw that one line email from the mayor with what seemed to be a rash promise. We’re all pleasantly surprised that he delivered on it as promised.
The Newton Upper Falls Greenway would never have been realized if it wasn’t for you Jerry Reilly. Thank you so much for all of your creative ideas and hard work.
Thanks J0-Louise.
I just heard that James McGonagle, the head of Newton’s DPW and Head of Operations Shane Mark were the folks who spearheaded this project. Many thanks to James, Shane and their crews and particularly for their foresight in holding off on the finish work at Oak St (and Tower Rd) until the ties were moved out. Overlooking that one little detail could easily have quickly ruined those portions of the trail.
This is awesome news.
Does Newton get bragging rights for the first segment of the Bay Colony Rail Trail?
Wooooo!!! So super excited to se if we can make this part of the Tour next year! Thanks all and Great job!
thanks to all who worked behind the scenes, recognizing the full benefit & effect for north-siders.
So happy to hear this! Thanks to all who made this happen!
More good news … I just heard that the ties are scheduled to be removed this week.
Leaving everyone in the future to wonder why there’s that strange bend in the trail.
Wondeful! Can’t wait to take a walk there. Can someone tell me where the entrance to the trail is please?
It was a delightful surprise to find the Greenway cleared, widened, and paved (?). The piles of wooden ties are well out of the way and don’t obstruct pedestrian passage at all. To answer Maria Greenberg’s question, the best entrance to the Greenway is probably from Pettee Square
in Upper Falls. This is the intersection of Chestnut Street and Oak Street. The section of the Greenway leading down to the Charles River runs behind the Biltmore block. The main section of the Greenway begins behind the Upper Falls Railroad Depot (where you can buy muffins, cookies, and other snacks). The Greenway runs parallel to Needham Street behind the Channel 7 tv tower, the CVS shopping center (where the Chamber of Commerce is located. Say “hi” to Greg). It continues near South Meadowbrook. Newton Technology Park. McDonald’s, and the new Needham Street Village Shops. It intersects with Easy Street at the Newtv studios. Walkers can get back to Needham Street between the NTW tire and National Lumber.
The South Burying Ground is beyond National Lumber. It’s been dramatically improved with Community Preservation Act funds . the Parks and Recreation Department, and the volunteers led by Harry Lohr Chair of Historic Newton’s Burying Grounds Committeee. The Marocco Brothers placed Christmas Wreaths on the graves of Revolutionary War veterans in the Burying Ground, including my ancestor Samuel Richardson. As the former Chair of the Ward Five Democratic Committee and the Vioe Chair to Chair Peg Hannigan, I must give credit to Republican City Committee Chair and several Republican activists for supporting the event. Then Aldermen now Councilors Ruth Ann Fuller and Alision Leary were also present for the ceremony,
The Greenway is a prelininary step in linking the retail, restaurant, and other resources of Needham Street to Upper Falls, and the N2 Innovation Corridor. Perhaps the participants in the first Corridor meeting who sought more places to eat and shop near their new offices in Needham would enjoy the restaurants of all types acessible from Needham Street and the Greenway. Workers in bookstore -less Needham might enjoying the wide selection and discount prices of the New England Book Fair. With the energy and enthusiasm of citizens like Jerry Reilly and Jim Lerner and the dozens of volunteers they drew, the possibilities are very exciting.
Councilor Brian Yates
[email protected]
617-244-2601
Tom Mountain is the Chair of the Republican City Committee and an active supporter of expressions of gratitude to veterans of our country’s armed services , both recent and
long ago.
Such a great surprise! Thanks to Jerry and everyone who helped get this part of the Greenway completed.
Congratulations everyone
This is great news, Jerry, thanks for sharing and thanks to all who participated in making this happen!
Coincidentally, my husband returned home from walking our dog this morning wondering how it is that we’ve never known about this great path behind NewTV. I’m letting him believe it’s been there for years.
Mum’s the word
Great news. This may be remembered as the year when Upper Falls had a twofer; movement to make the Saint Elizabeth Center a community meeting place and completion of the Greenway. Thanks to Jerry, Jim Lerner, Shana, the Osborne Family, the mayor, the folks at the DPW and so many others in the Falls and beyond. The renaissance of Upper Falls proceeds apace.
… and more Upper Falls related news today Bob. The upper falls based Newton Nomad Theater just had, its first full rehearsal of its upcoming show this afternoon and it looks like it’s going to be a great one. Molly Sweeney featuring Billy Meleady and NNT newcomers Noni Lewis and Stephen Cooper will open on Feb 5. More details coming soon.
Billy Meleady back on the Nomads’ stage(s) – there’s something to look forward to in February!
He does Hollywood movies, he does New York,and LA shows but he keeps coming back to the Newton Nomadic Theater and we love that. He’ll be both acting and directing this upcoming show.
I walked the path this morning. It’s a wonderful addition to the neighborhood! Dunn-Gaherin’s and The Depot are going to see a lot more of me!
@Gail – Let Henry & Kim at The Depot know that the Greenway brought you in. They’ll be happy to hear since they’ve been dealing with the construction outside their back door
@Jerry – Will do.
@Gail: See you at the Depot…my favorite breakfast haunt…where I am among seven or eight regulars who eat our muffins there each weekday morning! Our cosmopolitan table includes Wabanites, Highlanders, Upper Fallsers, and Needhamites.
@ Jerry: the construction has never been troublesome. Many of us have enjoyed watching the DPW crews and their cool machinery at work! What a lovely end product!
More good news – here’s a picture of railroad ties being loaded into trucks this afternoon.
What great news! Thank you Jerry & everyone else who made it happen.
Here’s a high speed tour of the Greenway, starting from the river. Thanks to Mary Durr, Chris Murphy and their GoPro camera
and a scene from sunset bridge a few weeks ago
https://www.facebook.com/peller/videos/10102157792782762/