Charles River Reservation Parkways
Encyclopedia
The Charles River Reservation Parkways are parkway
s that run along either side of the Charles River
in eastern Massachusetts
. The roads are contained within the Charles River Reservation
and the Upper Charles River Reservation
, and fall within a number of communities in the greater Boston metropolitan area. The Charles River parks extend from the Charles River Dam
, where the Charles empties into Boston Harbor
, to Riverdale Park in the West Roxbury
neighborhood of Boston. Most of the roadways within the parks are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as a unit, although Storrow Drive
and Memorial Drive
are listed as part of the Charles River Basin Historic District.
The other roadways, listed in 2006, extend from Harvard Square
to Newton Upper Falls
. The roads on the river banks were improved at the beginning of the 20th century to provide a continuous route through the park.
, extending from Harvard Square to the vicinity of Watertown Square in Watertown
and Newton
.
. They comprise several discontiguous segments in Waltham
, Weston
, and Newton. The stretch of the Charles they abut are between Sawyer Road in Waltham and Route 9 near its interchange with I-95.
Parkway
The term parkway has several distinct principal meanings and numerous synonyms around the world, for either a type of landscaped area or a type of road.Type of landscaped area:...
s that run along either side of the Charles River
Charles River
The Charles River is an long river that flows in an overall northeasterly direction in eastern Massachusetts, USA. From its source in Hopkinton, the river travels through 22 cities and towns until reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Boston...
in eastern Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The roads are contained within the Charles River Reservation
Charles River Reservation
The Charles River Reservation is a -long Massachusetts state park located along the banks of the Charles River in Boston, Cambridge, Watertown, and Newton. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation . The portion of the Reservation between the Charles River Dam and the...
and the Upper Charles River Reservation
Upper Charles River Reservation
The Upper Charles River Reservation is a Massachusetts state park encompassing portions of the banks of the Charles River between the Watertown Dam in Watertown and Riverdale park in the West Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The park is managed by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation...
, and fall within a number of communities in the greater Boston metropolitan area. The Charles River parks extend from the Charles River Dam
Charles River Dam
The Charles River Dam is a flood control structure on the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts, located just downstream of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, near Lovejoy Wharf, on the former location of the Warren Bridge.-History:...
, where the Charles empties into Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor is a natural harbor and estuary of Massachusetts Bay, and is located adjacent to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is home to the Port of Boston, a major shipping facility in the northeast.-History:...
, to Riverdale Park in the West Roxbury
West Roxbury, Massachusetts
West Roxbury is a neighborhood in Boston bordered by Roslindale to the north, the Town of Dedham to the east and south, the Town of Brookline and the City of Newton to the west. Many people mistakenly confuse West Roxbury with Roxbury, but the two are not connected. West Roxbury is separated from...
neighborhood of Boston. Most of the roadways within the parks are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as a unit, although Storrow Drive
Storrow Drive
Storrow Drive is a major cross town expressway in Boston, Massachusetts, running south and west from Leverett Circle along the Charles River. It is a parkway—it is restricted to cars; trucks and buses are not permitted on it...
and Memorial Drive
Memorial Drive (Cambridge)
Memorial Drive runs along the north bank of the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is designated as U.S. Route 3 or Massachusetts Route 3 for its entire length, and Massachusetts Route 2 over the portion west of the Boston University Bridge....
are listed as part of the Charles River Basin Historic District.
The other roadways, listed in 2006, extend from Harvard Square
Harvard Square
Harvard Square is a large triangular area in the center of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street, and John F. Kennedy Street. It is the historic center of Cambridge...
to Newton Upper Falls
Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts
Newton Upper Falls is a village situated on the east bank of the Charles River in the city of Newton, Massachusetts, in the United States.The area borders Needham, Massachusetts to the south/southwest, Wellesley, Massachusetts to the west, the West Roxbury neighborhood of Boston to the extreme...
. The roads on the river banks were improved at the beginning of the 20th century to provide a continuous route through the park.
Eastern parkways
The eastern parkways are within the Charles River ReservationCharles River Reservation
The Charles River Reservation is a -long Massachusetts state park located along the banks of the Charles River in Boston, Cambridge, Watertown, and Newton. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation . The portion of the Reservation between the Charles River Dam and the...
, extending from Harvard Square to the vicinity of Watertown Square in Watertown
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
and Newton
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
.
- Western Avenue/Arsenal Street, a short stretch between Soldiers Field Rd and Greenough Blvd, including a bridge across the river
- Charles River Road, on the north bank in Watertown
- Greenough Boulevard, the north bank from the end of Memorial Drive in Cambridge to Arsenal Street in Watertown
- Leo Birmingham Parkway, a short stretch farther from the river on the south bank, joining Soldiers Field Road at each end
- Nonantum Road, on the south bank from the end of Soldiers Field Road into Newton
- North Beacon Street, a short stretch connecting Greenough Blvd with Charles River Road
- Soldiers Field Road, from the end of Storrow DriveStorrow DriveStorrow Drive is a major cross town expressway in Boston, Massachusetts, running south and west from Leverett Circle along the Charles River. It is a parkway—it is restricted to cars; trucks and buses are not permitted on it...
through Allston and Brighton to the North Beacon Street Bridge, where it meets Nonantum Road
Western parkways
The western parkways are within the Upper Charles River ReservationUpper Charles River Reservation
The Upper Charles River Reservation is a Massachusetts state park encompassing portions of the banks of the Charles River between the Watertown Dam in Watertown and Riverdale park in the West Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The park is managed by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation...
. They comprise several discontiguous segments in Waltham
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, was an early center for the labor movement, and major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning,...
, Weston
Weston, Massachusetts
Weston is a suburb of Boston located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States in the Boston metro area. The population of Weston, according to the 2010 U.S. Census, is 11,261....
, and Newton. The stretch of the Charles they abut are between Sawyer Road in Waltham and Route 9 near its interchange with I-95.
- Charles River Road, between Sawyer Road and South Street in Waltham
- Norumbega Road, between South Street and Route 30 in Waltham
- Quinobequin Road, between Route 16Massachusetts Route 16Route 16 is an east–west state highway in Massachusetts. It begins in the west at an intersection with Route 12 and Route 193 in Webster, just north of the Connecticut state border...
and Route 9 in Newton - Recreation Road, between I-95 and Park Street in Weston