Beaver Brook Reservation

Beaver Brook Reservation is a public recreation area covering 303 acres (123 ha) on the dividing line between the town of Belmont and the city of Waltham, Massachusetts. The state park is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.[3]

For the reservation in Hollis, New Hampshire, see Beaver Brook Association.
Beaver Brook Reservation
Waverly Oaks
Location in Massachusetts
LocationBelmont, Waltham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
Coordinates42°23′26″N 71°11′52″W[1]
Area303 acres (123 ha)[2]
Elevation92 ft (28 m)[1]
Established1893
OperatorMassachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
WebsiteBeaver Brook Reservation

History

Created in 1893, the state park was the first reservation established by the Metropolitan Park Commission. Its primary purpose was to protect a stand of 22 white oak trees known as the Waverly Oaks, which had been defended from destruction by landscape architect Charles Eliot. The last of the ancient trees succumbed to old age in the 1920s. A portion of the reservation was owned by the landscape architect Robert Morris Copeland (1830-1874),[4] whose 19th-century home sits within the park. Other points of historical interest include a monument to the Waverly Oaks and the remains of a 19th-century fulling mill.[5]

Activities and amenities

In addition to a bike path, playing fields, woodlands, wetlands, a cascading waterfall, wading pool, and fishing opportunities, the reservation offers programs on wildlife and cultural history. Restrooms and a tot lot are also available.[3]

References
  1. "Beaver Brook Reservation". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "2012 Acreage Listing" (PDF). Department of Conservation and Recreation. April 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  3. "Beaver Brook Reservation". MassParks. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  4. "Robert Morris Copeland". The Cultural Landscape Foundation. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  5. "Beaver Brook Historic Reservation" (PDF). Waltham Land Trust Guide to Open Spaces. Waltham Land Trust. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 22, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
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