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Newton Park and Conservation Lands
SIZE: 10 acres
LONGEST WALK : 0.4 miles (a longer walk that includes this park)
ACQUIRED: 1968
ADMINISTERED BY: Conservation
Commission
FEATURES:
Here in Newton is a wild garden that's listed
on the National
Register of Historic Places. Its gracious paths, overhung by
azalea and rhododendron, wind around a stream and lagoon-like pond.
Water features were designed by Warren Manning, who formerly worked with Frederick Law Olmsted.
The alpine rock garden on a ledge overlooking
Houghton Pond was one of the first of its kind. Especially lovel
are the climbing hydrangea, the naturalized lilly of the valley,
the wood hyacinth, and other exotic evergreens.
HISTORY:
| 1906 |
Garden started
by Mrs. Clement S. Houghton, who lived in the Spanish mission
style house at 152 Suffolk Road. |
| 1968 |
Garden was taken
by eminent domain by Newton, after Chestnut Hill Neighborhood
Association fought off an eminent-domain bid to develop the
property for an art school. |
| 1999 |
Garden listed on the National Register of Historic Places. |
| 2000 |
City of Newton
received funds from Massachusetts Historical Commission and
the Department of Environmental Management to rehabilitate the
garden. |
| 2003 |
Garden reopened. |
ADVOCATES & CARETAKERS:
Chestnut Hill Garden Club
c/o Newton Conservation Commission
617-552-7135
MORE INFORMATION:
Discover Historic Chestnut Hill brochure
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