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Upper Falls Greenway

Overview

Linear park on old railroad line connecting Newton Highlands with the Charles River. Spur path runs from middle of Greenway to Needham Street.

 

Size: 1 mile linear park    Longest Walk: 2 miles    Acquired: 2013

Maps

 

Scan this code using the camera or QR code app on your smartphone for quick access to maps and other information on the property.

Get here by MBTA:

D Riverside Green Line: a 13-minute walk from Eliot, or a less pleasant 11-minute walk from Newton Highlands

MBTA bus route 59 (infrequent service) stops at Chestnut and Oak, adjacent to the trail

Other maps and aerial photos: Bing Maps bird’s-eye view

Connected to: Upper Falls Riverwalk

Info about this connection

Nearby: The walk from Eliot MBTA passes by the Frank Barney and Martin Conservation Areas

Trail Map


Click map for larger image

GPS Enabled Trail Map

Access City of Newton GIS Map


To see your location, press the location icon while viewing the map on your smartphone. If the blue location dot doesn’t appear when you open the map, come back to this page and click here.

Owner & Administrator Websites


Photo Gallery

First three photos shown here. Click a photo to view the complete slideshow or click here to browse the complete gallery.

History

1852

Newton Upper Falls station (now Little Luke’s Cafe) was built.

1958

Boston & Albany railroad abandoned service on Highland Branch. MBTA created D line to Riverside. Proposal to create service on branch of line from Newton Highlands to Needham was not implemented. Freight service on Upper Falls branch continued through at least 1984.

2011

Initial proposal to create greenway (more)

2013

Work begins to convert train tracks to greenway

2014

Trail originally scheduled to open. (Construction delayed.)

2015

City of Newton picks up work to complete the Greenway

2016

Greenway is dedicated

2020

February 20 – The MassWorks Infrastructure Grant Program awards a $396,500 grant to the City of Newton for design and engineering work that will jumpstart an extension of the Upper Falls Greenway Trail (to allow pedestrians and cyclists better access to the MBTA and Needham Street) and support improvements to safety, conditions, sustainability and vitality in the Pettee Square commercial district.

2022

At western end of Greenway, connections made to Upper Falls Riverwalk and to trail leading to Bobby Braceland Playground.  (more info)

2023

Planning begins for the Newton/Needham Community Way, to extend the Greenway into Needham.

Features

Accessible Trails, Biking, Charles River Walk, Cross Country Skiing, Historic Site, MBTA Green Line, Picnic Tables, Woods Trail
 

Additional Information

Advocates & Caretakers:

Upper Falls Greenway website is temporarily offline

Upper Falls Greenway on Facebook

Related Information:

Poster of invasive plants found in the Upper Fall Greenway

The proposed Needham Rail Trail would connect to the Upper Falls Greenway.

The proposed Bay Colony Rail Trail would continue through Dover to Medfield.

Iron Horse Preservation Society began the work to convert the railbed to a greenway.

History of train service in Newton Upper Falls

A video of a ride on the trail in January 2016

2017 Environmentalist of the Year Award to the creators of the Greenway

Newsletter articles about the Greenway:

Summer 2017 

Fall 2017

Fall 2018 (Beyond Boundaries sculpture show)

The Greenway may someday connect to the Blue Heron Trail

 

 

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