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HomeMy WebLinkAboutACROSS Lexington brochure W& *--; 1:1- t4t ¢ he . ACROSS LEXINGTON(Ar essing Conservation land,Recreation In Memoriam:Rick Abrams(1956 2014)was a founding member of t -- - - � areas,Open space Schools,and Streets)is a project of the Green- Greenways Corridor Committee and an enthusiastic and dedicated "-: = - ways Corridor Committee appointed by the Lexington board of advocate of ACROSS Lexington and the health benefits of walking. 1:7----': � - 7- - _ Selectmen tot develop a 40-mile network of marked routes throughout Donanons to supportACROSS Lexington are welcome and may be sent to --_e__ the town for the use of walkers,runners,and trail bikers Four routes Ar ROSS Lexington Trust Fund 9 �, totaling over 17 miles have been completed to date Town of Lcknaton � g`s> z; ��� - - 165 Massachusetts Ave a� -_ One of the single best things you tan do for your health is to get �\ '-ti _ Lexington,P/IA 02420 .. � �p� a moving.According to numerous studies,walking,running,or biking .. ° \ - WZt 30 minutes a day,5 days ai week,significantly reduces problems Please make checks out to Town of Lexin ton,end write Rick Abrams �, �' g associated wdh diabetes and blood pressure,builds muscle tone, ACROSS Lexington Trust Fund on the memo banned "" and helps fight depression '; c t"F This brochure includes a wealth of information to start you Thanks to Laurel Smith design and layout Rick Abrams Peggy Enders, � �t r � , " exploring the natural wanders and historic pathways of Lexington. Eileen F rtir Dorothea Osborne,Ruth Rose,Sam Doran,Charles Hornig, `+ a So get on your feet,enjoy the outdoors,and start living better! Stew Kennedy Keith Ohmart Contnbutors Mike Tabaczynski GIS Damian Strohmeyer cover photo,Lexington Historical Society Lexington -- , Historical Commission histones map and text Town of Lexington financial - _- - !!T )! . _ _e,r� and technical support.Northwestern Suburban Health Alliance/CRNA 15, - - _--, the Rick Ahram_ACROSS Lexington Trust Fund financial support David Neal iOSAppc -. - _ Ticks and mosquitos in the Lexington area may carry harmful diseases Know your risk and stay informedr The information from these organizations'websites will enhance your outdoor experience in Lexington! Visit www.lexingtonma.gov/health.cfm(click on rptu�x�ice Lexington's Public Health Division)or www.mass.gov/MosquitosAndTicks. acrosslexington.org- pedestrian and bicycle routesACROSS through openLexington spisaceanetwork and townof tourlexington.us-Events dining,lodging,and getting around - - - streets that link many parts of the town in Lexington. _ IandlockedforesLcom-Burlington Landlocked Forest is a everybodywalk.org-This site is loaded with helpful information 250-acre parcel of forest land in Burlington that borders Lexington about the health and other benefits of walking and being active - It offers 13 miles of trails. massbike.org-This is the leading bicycle advocacy organization Iexingtonma.gov/conservation/conland.cfm-Lexington has in Massachusetts and is an excellent bike safety resource 1300+acres of sunsereation land This lrnk will take you to maps foagm.org-The Fnends of Arlington's Great Meadows is - __ ® of the 26 conservation parcels dedicated to the protection and stewardship of the 183-acre -_ - --__ folb.net-The Friends of Lexington Bikeways(FoLB)promotes and Arlington's Great Meadows,located in the Town of Lexington. - - supports bicycling and the shared use of bicycle routes,including lexfarm.org-Lexington Community Farm is a:ummunity-based _ ..,. ___ _ the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway in and around Lexington farm located on the Town of Lexington's Busa Farm property.The 0= _ arlington2020.org/reservoir/-The Reservoir Committee of farm offers CSA(Community Supported Agriculture)memberships, `- ® Arlington's Vision 2020 Environmental Task Group is dedicated to hands-on education,food donation programs,and volunteer - the preservation and enhancement of the Arlington Reservoir opportunities to the community 110 Battle Green In the first skirmish of the Revolutionary War 80 0 Marrett&Nathan Munroe House(1 906 Mass Ave private) 0 John Mulliken House(1377 Mass.Ave. private)Built in Bowman Tavern(837 Mass.Ave. private)Run as a tavern colonists faced 800 British regulars here on April 19 1775 Nathan Munroe answered the call to arms on April 19 1775. 1776 on the foundation of the Raymond Tavern contains some of (1820-1540)070 1820-1540) serving teamsters and farmers driving sheep, 0 Simonds Tavern(1802-1828)(311 Bedford St. private)One The Old Belfry(Mass Ave &Clarke St.)Stood on the Green0 the tavern's original timbers turkeys,and.attie to the slaughterhouses in Brighton. of 12 taverns that served drovers bringing cattle and goods from from 1767 to 1797 Its bell sounded the alarm on April 19 1775. 0 Mason House(1303 Mass Ave private) The tanner John Follen Church(1839)(755 Mass Ave)Designed by its then Vermont and New Hampshire Cary Memorial Library(1874 Mass Ave)The library houses Mason was one of the 11 original buyers of the Green in 1711 minister Charles Follen,a German immigrant said to have brought Hancock-Clarke House(36 Hancock St)Paul Revere over 250,000 volumes,materials on the area and the Revolution, from Benjamin Muzzey the Christmas tree tradition to New England stopped here on April 18 1775,to warn Adams and Hancock and many works of art Munroe Tavern(1332 Mass Ave)Occupied by British Gen The Stone Building(735 Mass Ave 1 Built as a lyceum Percy and his reinforcements on the afternoon of April 19 1775 (1833) hosted debates byRalph Waldo Emerson,Theodore 0First Normal School(1 Hancock St)First Normal School in Lexington Depot(1846)(13 Depot Square)One of the last p the US(1839) now the Masonic Temple surviving train shed depots in New EnglandRobbins House(1716)(1295 Mass Ave private)Said tot Parker Charles Sumner Wendell Phillips Josiah Quincy Jr John have been part of the Underground Railroad during anti-slavery C Park,and possibly Henry David Thoreau. 0 Jonathan Harrington House(1 Harrington Rd. private) 0 Post Office Mural(1661 Mass.Ave)In 1939 Lexington days and the Civil War first Harrington,wounded on the Green,died near his doorstep resident A.L.Ripley painted this scene of April 19 1775. The k Brick structureStores(1828),served(703 Mass Aveas par gevateneral)One ofstore post Lexington'soffice ScottRite Masonic Museum&Library(Rte 0A at Buckman Tavern(1 Bedford St)Lexington's oldest tavern Cary Memorial Building(1605 Mass.Ave.,.).)Colonial Revival lecture hall,and branch library (1710)the Lexington militia gathered here on April 19 1775 building gift of Susanna Cary and Elizabeth Cary Farnham in Merrett Rishd.)Built in 1975 the museum houses exhibits on America's Masonic history and culture •Four oints of interest shown in black are not listed here.For memory of their father Isaac Harris Cary(1803-1881)0 p Visitor Center(1875 Mass.Ave.)Serves over 100,000 visitors Jonathan Harrington House(955 Mass.Ave. private) the complete document go to acrosslexington.org/historic. annually displays a diorama of the Battle of Lexington,and the Mead House(1505 Mass.Ave private)Home of Matthew Mead in 1775 became a hotel,the Russell House in 1882 Harrington,a fifer in Capt Parker's Minute Men,was the last U S S Lexington memorial survivor of the Battle of Lexington. iiIII LEGEND mi App Store .• °,^, � qi ACROSS Lexington 1,1Search for the free App 6$6. ACROSS LEXINGTON Minuteman Commuter Bikeway 4304 R1z2 Trail on Conservation Land "°„ cTo Trail on Other Land 11 1 11 m111101,1' y N Street 1 Biu,' 141 Restrooms "s "'' mREE, Visitors Center I rl r" \ Cary Library �0 Center Playground lk e6;-,'''..P:, Lincoln Park 11 11 AI„ 11114%11/ JI ti DPW ole00'1'I'''''', 1 Historic Center V Points of Interest PG,„oG< Open Space 1E0„G.O,GOLF OMB „ Agricultural 111111 II'III Other Municipality o E« Lexington Conservation 1 a.,. x^1111111111111 Lexington Other I'm: Lexington Recreation/School " 'I aa«^ Private IIII, un,,,,uo,n,,,, OROOK �o a ww„�.e m E 4Eoa ti RETaTUF wr� „ate a Merem m Cy�sT °I',114,,,,, k„i Fi 11 � v,,,jr°Nu,,, ,II ! .ate III TAF' II III ' ,p�„ I �� i',,,, ' 111 �� ......,.o „u 4 ,„oo„ ��,sono �aFpw „� p Moo ,4 111i PILLOWS 1 �B. w„ CVs w�VR o,1u,00„ II 1111 M'�vu° �' mNMw V,IV��� � ,,,,,,,,,4„,4 1:1E:1.„10,11` v Q' Vall11111111111 ae« ^,o Eye„s www.acrosslexington.org Please-ontact us with Points of Interest 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 1 Mile your feedback. I Route A (5 4 ml) the 17th century.It is named for a later owner Jonas Parker Route C(2.6 ml) lm, who was killed on Lexington Common on April 19 1775.In the on!,Visitors Center offers information and hospitality early 1980s the Lexington Conservation Commission built a 4111 mi 111'The Cataldo Reservation links the Minuteman between 9,00 A.M.and 5:00 P.M. 362 days a year pond around a spring there as a habitat for wildlife and to Bikeway to the Arlington Reservoir protect the watershed There is a picnic area ,���,�,�,,1��„��i,,,,, III ji The Minuteman Bikeway is one of the most popular lllltll'ui,F The Arlington Reservoir built in 1873 originally Frail-trail[in the U S and is in the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame supplied water to Arlington The Town of Arlington Route B(4.5 mi) maintains a swimming beach along Lowell Street 7iiiIIV1!pi,Vine Brook provided waterpower for the town in the ,i1liiiilil,Upper Vine Brook–Cotton Farm conservation area 17th and 18th centuries It flows from the Old Reservoir, comprises 52 mostly wetland acres.A trail on its eastern Infinity Pond is a certified vernal pool—full in the runs under Lexington Center and eventually empties into edge passes an active apple orchard and a picnic area spring but dry in the summer.Aquatic animals such as the Shawsheen River fairy shrimp,spotted salamanders,and wood frogs 1121'Three Watersheds originate in Lexington at about thrive there:the pool has no fish that would attack their 7 iiil0II!i,u„Lower Vine Brook conservation area covers 108 this junction the watersheds of the Charles River,the eggs and young. forested acres and includes 2 1 miles of trails Route A Shawsheen River,and the Mystic River The streams ,,u,,,, follows a paved path running along Vine Brook itself,but move and clean water provide wildlife habitats,create ',ulll,^ Arlington s Great Meadows a 183-acre parcel of other trails lead to old sand and gravel pits,now ponds wetlands,and offer aesthe i pleasure to visitors land owned by Arlington but located in Lexington,is the � largest piece of undeveloped land in the two towns 7i iilli,1111 Lexington Tree Farm began in 2007 and is a joint ,[01, ,pllu!ii Dunback Meadow Lexington's largest conservation Arlington purchased the land in 1871 as a supplemen- venture of the Conservation Department,the DPW and area,was once used for harvesting peat and pasturing tary water-storage area but used it for that purpose only the Lexington Tree Committee It can hold 500 trees, cows Today it's known as an excellent birding site briefly.The Meadows remains a valuable buffer against flooding in the downstream area. 7iull!1!!;Iu Todays North Street conservation area was an 11111j0111,,„Old Reservoir known today by locals as The Res operating sand pit as recently as the 1950s,when it oce provided drinking water to Lexington and the Route D(3.4 mi) supplied sand for the construction of parts of Route surrounding areas.Now it's a popular recreational site for ,muuuu, 128.Now a large pond inhabits the 26-acre forest swimming and skating. 11n2,1,0,Whipple Hill;onservation area is named for Joseph and wildlife habitat. Reed Whipple who owned a produce and dairy farm in !!ulu,ul Lincoln Park was a town dump until the 1980s when the late 1800s Glaciers dragged huge boulders here 4oiu1uti Willard's Woods;onservation area comprises 107 it was transformed into a 60-acre recreational area leaving deep scratches still evident Whipple Hills acres of fields meadow,pine groves,and wetlands featuring trails,a pond,and playfields 374-foot summit is the highest point in Lexington On a Geologically,much of Willard's Woods is a kettle hole,a clear day you can see mountains to the north and west depression formed about 10,000 years ago by the "0!!uw,f,,,,' Belfry Hill Park contains a replica of the bell tower melting of a mass of glacial ice There is a picnic area. that once sat on Lexington Green.On April 19 1775,the '1!111111,D1The area known as Sun Valley—along Whipple Hill, ii bell sounded the alarm that the Regulars were coming. 1ILocke Lane,and Fairlawn Lane—was developed in the "112 1,,Chiesa Farm conservation area has 18 acres of 1950s.Many of its original ranch-style homes had pasture along Adams Street Traces of a ring tramped by �llu1�iih;The Battle Green saw the first battle of the American unheated sunrooms the farm's horses are visible near where the trail enters Revolution On April 19 1775,80 Lexington Minutemen ,uuuuuu„ Adams Street faced 800 British Regulars A statue of John Parker leader Lexington Community Farm(LexFarm),a nonprofit of the militia,memorializes those who fought community-based farm,sells its produce through shares 7,3Vp,Parker Meadow conservation area,comprising 17 and a farm stand.It offers hands-on education and acres of fields.forest,and wetlands,was farmed early in volunteer programs and donates to food pantries.