Menotomy Rocks Park (Stroller Friendly)
Located on Jason Street ½ mile from Arlington Town Centre. This 33.5 acre of land is the largest natural piece of park land in the town boundaries and is under the jurisdiction of the Park and Recreation Department. The park is host to a wide variety of birds and has a 2.5 acre fresh water pond.
From Massachusetts Avenue headed west - Follow Mass Ave pass the Arlington Town Hall. The light after the Town Hall is Jason Street to the left and Mill Street to the right.
Turn left on Jason Street and go uphill for .4 miles. Go straight through the intersection with the blinking light and watch for the park entrance on your right within the next 1/10th of a mile. Park on the street.Located on Jason Street ½ mile from Arlington Town Centre. This 33.5 acre of land host a wide variety of birds and has a 2.5 acre fresh water pond.
The Great Meadows
This 185 acre piece of land is in Lexington, but owned by the Town of Arlington. It was originally acquired to protect the town's water supply. There are two meeting spots and they will be referred to by the names below. ***NOTE: Please apply insect repellent on warm days before visiting these sites and wear appropriate footwear on wet days.
GREAT MEADOWS EAST VILLAGE (Not stroller friendly)
From Massachusetts Avenue headed west - Follow Mass Ave. past the Arlington Town Hall. The light after the Town Hall is Jason Street to the left and Mill Street to the right. Turn right on Mill Street and follow to traffic light.
Turn left at the traffic light. This is Summer Street. Follow Summer Street 2.5 miles. (After 2 miles it becomes 2A).
Turn left on Bryant Street. There is a small sign that also indicates East Village Nursing Home. Bryant winds through a neighbourhood for .4 miles and dead ends. Look for a town house community (Emerson Gardens) on your right and the nursing home ahead of you. Go into the nursing home driveway and turn right into the parking lot on the right side of the building. Go all of the way to the far end of the lot. You will notice a slight hill with a path. We will meet just over the rise.
GREAT MEADOWS - SHEILA ROAD (Not stroller friendly)
From Massachusetts Avenue headed WEST, turn right on Park Avenue. Take Park Ave over a train bridge for 0.1 mile until you come to a 6- way intersection.
Take the sharpest left you can take onto Lowell Street. Follow Lowell Street 0.7 miles to Lillian Road - turn left (Lillian is just before Lowell runs into 2A).
Follow Lillian to your first right and turn onto Sheila Road. Sheila Road runs one block and dead ends at the Great Meadows.
You will see a wide driveway with a "No Parking" sign - this is the path entrance. Park on the street, without blocking any of the neighbours' driveways, and walk down the path several hundred yards.
From Massachusetts Ave. headed west - Follow Mass Ave. pass the Arlington Town Hall. The light after the Town Hall is Jason Street to the left and Mill Street to the right. Turn right on Mill Street and follow to traffic light. Turn left at the traffic light. This is Summer Street. Follow Summer Street 2.5 miles. (After 2 miles it becomes 2A). Turn left on Bryant Street. There is a small sign that also indicate East Village Nursing Home. Bryant winds through a neighbourhood for .4 miles and dead ends. Look for a town house community (Emerson Gardens) on your right and the nursing home ahead of you. Go into the nursing home driveway and turn right into the parking lot on the right side of the building. Go all of the way to the far end of the lot. You will notice a slight hill with a path. We will meet just over the rise.
Arlington Reservoir (the Res)
This is a 65 acre area of land lies half in Arlington and half in Lexington. The reservoir has not been used as drinking water since the turn of the century, but offers a variety of habitats for birds and other animals.
There are three meeting spots at the reservoir. Each spot will be denoted by the name listed below.
RINDGE AVENUE (Lexington - stroller friendly)
Follow Massachusetts Avenue WEST into Lexington. Turn right at Bow Street, the second street on your right. Look for Power's Music School as a landmark for this corner.
Take your first right onto So. Rindge Avenue. Follow this street 0.3 mile until you see a small play ground and field on your right. Park along the street and we will meet on the path along the water.
HURD FIELD (Stroller Friendly)
Follow Mass Ave towards Arlington Heights and Lexington.
Immediately after the Trader Joes and Starbucks, turn RIGHT onto Drake Rd.
Follow Drake over the bike path and take the first RIGHT into the parking lot (just before the housing complex).
Park on the LEFT side of the parking lot – the brook will be right in front of your car. Follow the brook as you walk along the left side of the soccer field. You will see an opening with a path. Take the path and cross the brook. We will meet on the grass just on the other side of the brook.
Mount Gilboa (Not stroller friendly)
This 10 acre parcel of land, including the house, is the largest piece of land owned by the Arlington Conservation Commission. It is a woody hill covered with oaks, hickory, cherry, and blueberries and crisscrossed with a series of paths that give a variety of perspectives to the land.
From Massachusetts Avenue headed WEST-turn right onto Park Avenue. Follow Park Avenue over a train bridge for 0.1 mile until you come to a 6- way intersection.
Take the sharpest left turn onto Lowell Street.
Follow Lowell St. for 0.4 miles, then turn right onto Westmoreland Ave (reservoir will be on left).
Follow Westmoreland Ave to the second right turn right onto Crescent Hill Avenue. Park on Crescent Ave. Walk up hill and turn left onto Park Place. Walk straight up this the hill and you will see a narrow path heading into the woods on the top.
Spy Pond
Follow Mass Ave through Arlington Center towards East Arlington and Cambridge.
Take a RIGHT onto Pond Lane.
Follow Pond down the hill and under the bike path.
Park in the lot along the pond.
There is a playground just to the left of Pond Lane. Walk on the path between the playground and the pond. We will meet on the grass just down the way a bit.
INDOOR LOCATION: Pleasant St. Congregational Church
75 Pleasant Street, Arlington, MA 02476.
Classes will be held in the Fox Room.
Phone number: 781-643-0553.