A river runs through it -- but no one knowsLegislator wants to revive CharlesYears ago, the Charles River was a big part of life in West Roxbury. Native Americans and early settlers lived off the river, fishing its waters and farming along its banks. In the early 1900s, the river was a popular attraction at the end of a trolley line from Forest Hills with a swimming beach, an expansive picnic area, and a carousel. But today, the river is largely obscured by woods and the roaring
traffic of VFW Parkway, with glimpses possible from behind West Roxbury
High School and "If you tell people that West Roxbury has a beach, they look at you like you have two heads," said Mike Rush, a freshman Democrat state representative from West Roxbury and former high school and college history teacher. Along with some state officials and environmental activists, Rush is pushing for an extension of the Charles River Trail -- which now runs from Norumbega Park in Newton to the Museum of Science -- to West Roxbury. That trail, according to Rush's vision, would be part of a revival of the local riverfront. Rush was speaking one morning standing near a sign on VFW Parkway that says "Havey Beach" -- although there is no beach anymore, only a grassy area with a boarded-up state-owned building. While Rush understands that swimming in the Charles is not going to happen soon, he is committed to the idea of opening the river for recreation and restoring some of its former glory. "I have a lot of ideas for down here, and I want to move forward," Rush said. The building -- a century-old former carriage house and stable -- could be turned into a visitors center and canoe-rental venue, Rush suggests. An old filled-in outdoor swimming pool next to the adjacent Bryan skating rink could be converted to parking. "This is not far-fetched. This is something that could become a reality," he said. "Nothing happens overnight, but every vision has a beginning." This fall, the state opened a new stretch of the hiking and bike trail from Watertown Square to Norumbega Park, near Route 128. That project, which is scheduled to be marked with a grand opening in the spring, could give momentum to the notion of extending the path farther, to West Roxbury and Dedham. The Watertown-to-Newton extension already is being heavily used, according to Robert Zimmerman Jr., executive director of the Charles River Watershed Association. "It is great that it is being seen for what it is, which is a tremendous asset to these communities," Zimmerman said. Dan Driscoll, senior planner for the Department of Conservation and Recreation, said extending the trail another 10 miles or so to West Roxbury would not be that difficult or costly. The state owns most of the land along the riverbank, and a rough trail already exists along several stretches on the river's route through Newton, Weston, Wellesley, Needham, and Dedham to West Roxbury. To complete the job, what is needed is public support and a funding source, Driscoll said. "It's not that complicated, but if no one is focusing on it, the money is not going to just show up," Driscoll said. Rush said he intends to call community meetings and continue talks with other state officials to build support for the idea. The state would probably seek federal grants for design and construction of the trail, he said. State Senator Marian Walsh, a West Roxbury Democrat whose district spans both the suburban and city sides of the Charles, said she is very interested in improving access to the river but also wants to make sure any new trail or other facilities are properly maintained. Some residents of the Riverdale section of Dedham have opposed extending the trail to their neighborhood because it would run too close to homes. In West Roxbury, however, it would run behind businesses and public parkland and so far has not sparked opposition. The Charles is known as "a reluctant river," because of its extensive meandering on its route from its headwaters in Hopkinton to Boston Harbor. Boston Marathon runners go 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston. The river does it in 81. Robert Preer can be reached at preer@globe.com. |