A Wood frog chorus in Bare Pond

Wood frogs breed in vernal pools such as Bare Pond in Webster Woods. In March 2024, hundreds of frogs visited the pond, and made quite a racket.  Watch them in

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Mending a Gap in the Riverside Greenway

The Riverside Greenway is a planned walking route connecting Auburndale Park at Commonwealth Avenue to the Lower Falls Pedestrian Bridge over the Charles River.  The Greenway is a link in

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Enrolling now for Newton Community Farm’s 2024 Summer CSA Program!

Applications are now being accepted for Newton Community Farm’s 2024 Summer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program!   Eat fresh, locally-grown produce from June through October for a cost per share of

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Hammond Pond Parkway Reconstruction Begins

December 2023 updates: DCR Begins Construction to Improve Access and Safety for Cyclists and Pedestrians, Increase Connections to Open Space on Hammond Pond Parkway (DCR press release) Work begins on

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Levingston Cove Reconstruction Completed

Levingston Cove is a portion of the Crystal Lake shoreline to the west of the bathhouse. It includes benches, a platform used for fishing, and an unofficial swimming area.  In

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Wayfinding Signs in Cold Spring Park

In September 2023, nine wayfinding posts were installed on the trails of Cold Spring Park. The project, led by Life Scout Owen Serra, was sponsored by Scouts BSA Troop 209,

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Planning for the Newton/Needham Community Way

The Upper Falls Greenway converted an abandoned railroad route into a pedestrian and bicycle path from Newton Highlands to the Charles River. The Town of Needham and the City of

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Deer Park Trails Open in Webster Woods

The former “Deer Park” in Webster Conservation Area is now open to the public.  A half-mile trail loops around the property.  Access points are on Hammond Pond Parkway (just north

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Check out the Pollinator Toolkit!

Our environment is at risk because of precipitous declines in habitat, native plants and the insects, birds, and other animals that depend on those plants. The pollinators that are an

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mosquito at rest

Mosquito-borne Disease Risks

On August 29th, the risk level for West Nile Virus (WNV) in Newton was raised to “Moderate.”  The risk level for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE or “Triple E”) remains as

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Ellen Foust

Ellen Foust is a fine art photographer with a passion for teaching. Since 2018, she has been exploring the clouds at Newton’s Bullough’s Pond. Like Monet with his haystack paintings,

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Indigenous Legislative Agenda

The Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda is promoting five bills in the Legislature to advance the needs of the Indigenous community. The group includes leadership from the North American Indian Center

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