Last Piece of Community Path Between Watertown/Cambridge Falling Into Place

The last piece of required to create a path between Watertown Community Path and the path along Fresh Pond was acquired by the Cambridge, the Department of Conservation and Recreation announced Tuesday. 

The path, being called the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway, will provide a link for bicyclists and pedestrians to other paths and will allow people to leave their cars at home.

“With this acquisition, we are on the verge of realizing a vision pursued over the course of 20 years by many dedicated residents and several of my predecessors,” said Representative Jonathan Hecht. “This is a huge moment for cleaner, healthier transportation and a better quality of life in Watertown, Cambridge, and surrounding communities.”

When completed, the path will provide "green" commuting opportunities for Watertown residents and others in communities near Boston, said DCR Commissioner Ed Lambert in the announcement.

State Sen. Will Brownsberger said the path will be a big step for bicyclists and walkers.

"I'm thrilled to see DCR continuing to make steady progress in connecting its network of paths,” Brownsberger said. “I deeply appreciate DCR's dogged pursuit of the long term vision of off-road thru-travel for cyclists and pedestrians."

The first phase of the path opened in 2011 and stretches from the Watertown Mall to Arlington Street, crossing near Nichols Avenue, Cottage Street and Filippelo Park.  

The second phase will complete the link between the Charles River Corridor and paths leading to the Fresh Pond Reservation, Fresh Pond Shopping Center, Alewife Greenway, the Alewife T station, the Minuteman Bike Path, and the Mystic River Reservation, according to the DCR.

The DCR bought a piece of land between Grove Street in Watertown and Huron Avenue in Cambridge. The 4.2 acres of land was purchased from the Boston & Maine Rail Road for $1.3 million with the help of $829,000 of DCR’s Land Acquisition funds and $470,000 of federal funds for green transportation, according to the announcement.

Another acquisition by the City of Cambridge stretches along the former B&M Rail Road corridor to the north, between Huron Avenue and Concord Avenue in Cambridge with Community Preservation Act funds, the DCR said.  

The two acquisitions will more than double the length of the original greenway; expanding it from 4,600 feet to 10,200 feet in length, according to the DCR.