A non-profit citizens' group advocating for Newton's open spaces
New Pedestrian Bridges and Trails in Riverside Park
Riverside Park is a small DCR property located mostly in Weston, between the Riverside MBTA station and the Martin Golf Course. For many years, the two pedestrian bridges that crossed the Charles from the park into Newton were closed due to their unsafe condition.
DCR received funding from the state’s Accelerated Bridge Program to replace the two decaying bridges. The new upstream bridge, called the Pony Truss Bridge, opened in 2013. Reconstruction of the downstream bridge, known as the Lasell Boathouse Bridge, began in 2023.
The new upstream bridge is a link in a three to four-mile loop trail around Riverside Park and the Leo J. Martin Golf course. A winter route walks on the golf course in some places. An all-year route avoids the golf course.
The old Pony Truss bridge in 2011, prior to its reconstruction.
The new bridge built in 2013.
Reconstruction of the “Lasell Boathouse Bridge” began in 2023.
Site of the reconstructed Boathouse Bridge
The MWRA has paved and landscaped a path through their deep rock tunnel access site, the location of a major water main break in 2010. The path connects Riverside Park to the Boathouse Bridge.
The underpass is now closed. Planning to restore it is underway.
After crossing into Newton on the upstream bridge, a walker can turn right onto a path that goes for a quarter mile along the Charles.
The path ends at this old railroad bridge. Future trail development will follow the abandoned rail line to the southwest to connect with the pedestrian bridge across the Charles in Newton Lower Falls. In the meantime, it is possible to walk a loop in this area using a combination of streets and unimproved trails.
The bridge at the end of the current trail is at the edge of the Riverside MBTA Yard. Plans for mixed use redevelopment of a portion of the MBTA site mention the potential for walkways connecting the development to Riverside Park.
