14 Comments

In northern New England, there's a tradition of volunteers walking the boundaries of a town, I suppose to ensure there's no line confusion. Your subscribers might consider contacting select boards and joining an official perambulation.

Expand full comment

Jay, it’s great to hear that this is something that people still do in parts of Northern New England. “Beating the bounds,” as some call it, is still on the law books here in Massachusetts, but the towns and cities have largely stopped doing it. I’m going to revisit this idea in the near future. Thanks for the intel!

Expand full comment

I love the perambulate idea. But once people have parambulated Chestnut Hill, I suggest getting into the interior. Venturing out from nether Allston Brighton at the beginning of the pandemic in March, 2020, and heading south uphillI I passed through BC's empty campus and discovered Houghton Gardens (literally fenced but with metal gates that open), then tentatively continued across the Green Line tracks to find the backside of Hammond Pond Reservation, and it's magnificent rocks and valleys, and adjacent Webster Woods. Mary Baker Eddy's house is tucked in there as well. If you cross route 9 heading south on Hammond Pond Parkway, you can add on Lost Pond Reservation (which disaffected Brookline teens seem to know well), venture past an incinerator facility (Brookline does have waste!) and then finish off climbing up the very strange Skyline Park (formerly a dump?). This became our regular pandemic route. Fortunately wealthy folks who were away often were having construction done on their homes, so plenty of porta potties. Fewer porta potties today but still a great way to get in some greenbathing and a whiff of wealth if you're on the western edge of Boston.

Expand full comment

Barbara, this is something of a spoiler, but you’ll be pleased to know that this gorgeous route is going to be part of the “sequel” to the Walking City Trail that’s launching this spring! As you described the route, I got this big grin of recognition. You stumbled upon it before I did though.

Expand full comment

That's fantastic!! When I first studied the Walking City Trail, I was sad it didn't include this area, though I understood why. I found and still use more "green" wiggles from Brighton to get to Chestnut Hill - there are so many remnant woodlands, stairs, etc. Happy to help if you need it.

Expand full comment

Want to come on a surveying walk this winter, to vet/tweak the trail route? Lots of these will be announced soon. I can make sure you get the intel.

Expand full comment

ooh me too me too! Like Barbara, I took a lot of pandemic walks through Chestnut Hill & environs (and am always looking for bathroom availability). Will I just get an email if I already get the Walking City Trail [events and news] emails?

Expand full comment

I remember driving through Chestnut Hill many years ago on a through street with many signs stating "not a through street" and also equipped with speed bumps. Saw not a soul outside, kind of creepy.

Expand full comment

Kinda feels like the signs should really say “not a place for people”

Expand full comment

The only sidewalks are in the village shopping areas. I suppose it could be an aesthetic choice but seems to intentionally discourage pedestrians. Eerie it is.

Expand full comment

Most of my decorative painting projects are in gilded towns. I always try to commute to the jobs using public transportation then walking to the mansion behind the wall we’re working at. In many of these places (Hamptons, Greenwich) there are no shoulders on the roads and people are speeding around distractedly in their Range Rovers. I never see anyone else walking and sometimes a Jaguar will pull over and the driver will offer me a ride. Walking is “just not done.”

Expand full comment

Fascinating. And do you find that in a lot of these places, there are actual sidewalks and such which, in theory, would facilitate walking? I was seeing a friend in Dallas in November and we took a night walk in the ritzy Highland Park area. It was beautiful, with lots of holiday lights up, and we were the only people on the sidewalks. Eerie.

Expand full comment

1) Obsessed with the title, A+/no notes

2) No newsletter about Brookline anti-scruff walls is complete without including my boy Walbridge/Columbia Street: https://maps.app.goo.gl/X9DQHzTvPagKRrK3A

Expand full comment

Yes, would like to hear about them. Would try to participate.

Expand full comment