A Vision for Mary Cummings Park

A Vision for Mary Cummings Park

Friends of Mary Cummings Parkwww.cummingspark.org [email protected]

2012

A Vision for Mary Cummings Park

A family walk in Mary Cummings Park.

Contents

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6About Friends of Mary Cummings Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Timeline of the Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9A History of Farming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12John Cummings and the Cummings Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Mary Phelps Cowles Cummings and her Will . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16The Gardening Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Flirting with Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20The Park Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Mary Cummings Park as Open Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24A Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Habitat Management and Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Habitat: Meadows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Habitat: Wetlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Habitat: Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Habitat: Thicket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Priority Habitat for Rare Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38The Camp Ground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40The Gardening Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42A Trail System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Babylon Hill Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Flyers Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Central Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Whispering Hill Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Northeastern University Burlington Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Development In and Around the Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

5Friends of Mary Cummings Park • Vision for Mary Cummings Park • 2012

A runner goes for a run in the open fields at Mary Cummings Park.


Overview

The Friends of Mary Cummings Park presents here a vision for the future of the park. We hope to include as many viewpoints as possible in considering the future of this land, beginning with the view of Mary Cummings herself that this land be kept “forever open as a public pleasure ground.”

A Good Plan

Good stewardship should begin with a good understanding of the nature of the park. Therefore there must be a comprehensive active management plan for the entire park based on a complete natural resource inventory and land conservation management best practices.

An active management plan for the park should result from this careful inventory of the land including wildlife and habitats, ongoing and historic uses, GIS maps and a review of the landscape and terrain. The resulting plan should include proposals for habitat enhancement or restoration, creation of new trails and closure of problematic trails, signage and interpretive materials, and adoption of policies for appropriate use.

Governance and Management

Good governance begins with bringing together people, values and institutions to create a sustainable system.

Alternatives for future governance and management of the park:

◆ Commonwealth of Massachusetts accepts transfer of title to the land and care and maintenance trust fund to create a new State Park.

◆ City of Boston Park Department resumes management of the park including oversight by the Boston Parks and Recreation Commission and day to day management by park department personnel.

◆ Agreement is reached between the City of Boston and a partner for long term management of the park, with the City of Boston retaining title to the land. Potential partners include: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Trustees of Reservations, Northeastern University, Massachusetts Audubon Society, or a non-profit entity specifically created for this purpose.


One of many volunteer groups that Friends of Mary Cummings Park has guided through clean-up of the park.

A volunteer team, organized by the Friends of Mary Cummings Park.


About Friends of Mary Cummings Park

Friends of Mary Cummings Park Inc was founded in 2007 as a non-profit corporation in order to form a group whose sole purpose was to defend Mary Cummings Park from the pressures of development and to provide an organization which can help bring a vision for sustainable recreational use of the park while respecting its historical use and natural environment.

What the Friends of Mary Cummings Park has done

◆ Advocated that Boston to make the park accessible, with the result that no-trespassing signs have been removed.

◆ Worked against the City of Boston’s attempt to break Mary Cummings’ will.

◆ Worked at length to support and encourage Woburn’s successful purchase of Whispering Hill Woods, adjoining Mary Cummings Park.

◆ Works to stop nearby development from encroaching on the border of the park.

◆ Organizes cleanup efforts by members and volunteers.

◆ Attends town meetings to advocate for better use of and protection for the park.

“What will be left one hundred years hence as the result of what we are doing now? “

Joseph Lee (1862-1937), President of the Playground and Recreation Association of America.

POINT OF VIEW:


Timeline of the Park

18501820 1830 18401810 19001870 1880 18901860 1910

1839

Mary Cowles born

c1877

John Cummings extends his personal credit to MIT to continue its operations

1812

John Cummings born

1881

John and Mary Cummings are married

1868-1898

John Cummings is President of Shawmut Bank

1861

John Cummings is listed amongst the founding members of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

1872

John Cummings becomes Treasurer of MIT

1898

John Cummings dies, noted for his many achievements


19601930 1940 19501920 20001970 1980 1990 2010

1930

The Boston City Council votes to accept the land in trust and places the land under the control of the Boston Park and Recreation Commission

c1950s

Building constructed by Boston Park Department to support Summer garden program

1954

Roughly 20 acres of are taken by the Federal Govt through eminent domain for use as a Nike missile site

1963

Northeastern University buys the former missile base from the government for a suburban campus. Town of Burlington later buys a portion of the land for housing and to build the ball field called Rotary Field

c1988

City of Boston submits a proposed cy pres to the Mass Attorney General to sell of all the land to create a new trust fund for parks within the City limits of Boston. AG does not support proposal.

1986

The Boston School Department’s Summer Gardening program is terminated

1927

Mary Phelps Cowles (Hall) Cummings dies giving her farm, known as Babylon Hill, in trust to the City of Boston

1984

Summer Gardening program is terminated.

2012

Town of Burlington begins construction of multi-purpose soccer field with parking area on the former site of the Woburn Garden Summer program

2001

Mayor Menino directs City of Boston Treasury Department to pursue acquisition of the land by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

2003

No trespassing signs are posted along the perimeter of the park

2005

In an article in the Boston Globe, the Boston Finance Commission publicly recommends sale of the public pleasure ground that Mary Cummings left in trust to the City

2006

The first park and trail clean-up is organized by Woburn Residents Environmental Network (WREN) and “Friends of Mary Cummings Park”

2007

Friends of Mary Cummings Park is founded as a non-profit corporation

1937

Article in the National Recreation Association’s journal describes the Boston School Department’s Summer program at the “Woburn Garden” on the “Cummings Estate”

2009

Boston demolishes Park Department building despite an offer to repair the building for free

2010

City of Woburn purchases Whispering Hill Woods for use as public parkland bringing the total area of contiguous public land to nearly 300 acres


The areas around Boston, and the Cummings property in Burlington and Woburn had a long, proud history of farming.


A History of Farming

The towns around Boston were once full of farms, fields, and open spaces. Today there are few remnants of that legacy. The Cummings Farm at Babylon Hill was once one of the most productive farms of the area.

Just Suppose...

Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives.

- Thomas Berry

POINT OF VIEW:


The Cummings mansion on the corner of Bedford and Cambridge streets burned in 1937.


John Cummings and the Cummings Farm

John Cummings (1812-1898) served as the president of the Shawmut Bank in Boston for 29 years while running a tanning business of Alley, Choate & Cummings in Woburn where he lived. He was also owner of a farm lying on the border of Woburn and Burlington that had been handed down through the Cummings family for nearly two hundred years

Cummings was affiliated with many institutions, but the one in which he took the most interest was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for which he was a founding member and treasurer from 1872 to 1889. He was credited with saving MIT when in 1873 he extended his personal credit to the institute to allow it to continue operations.

His great recreation was Natural History and he amassed a collection that he donated to the Woburn Public Library for which he was a trustee. He also served several years on the Woburn school committee, and in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and then the Senate.


The Parc de St-Cloud near Paris that inspired Mary Cummings.


Mary Phelps Cowles Cummings (1839-1927) was the eldest child of Reverend John P. Cowles and Eunice Caldwell Cowles. She was a teacher at Abbott Academy in Andover before marrying Dr. Adino Hall (1819 -1880)When Dr. Hall died, Mary donated the funds to build the Hall Memorial Library in his hometown of Northfield NH.

In 1881, she married John Cummings, who was also widowed. John’s only child by his first wife died in infancy. Although Mary didn’t have children of her own, she took an interest in their welfare, serving the Woburn School in 1890, donating land for a playground that is now called Gonsalves Field, and creating a scholarship for students in Ipswich.

After John died in 1898, Mary lived in their home on the corner of South Bedford and Cambridge Streets and maintained the farm. She traveled abroad, discovering the Parc de St-Cloud which inspired her vision for turning her farm at Babylon Hill into a public park. She may also have been influenced by the creation of some notable parks in metropolitan Boston: Arnold Arboretum (1872), Lynn Woods Reservation (1881), Franklin Park (1885), Middlesex Fells Reservation (1891), Blue Hills Reservation (1893), Prospect Hill Park (1893), Stony Brook Reservation (1894)

When Mary Cummings died in 1927, she left her 236-acre farm as a recreational park for the public, “forever open as a public pleasure ground”, along with a substantial care and maintenance fund, in trust to the City of Boston.

Mary Phelps Cowles Cummings and her Will


Garden Program

Bus that brought Boston school children to Mary Cummings Park.

Aerial view of the Nike Anti-Missile base that was placed in Mary Cummings Park, showing the Garden Program fields.


The Gardening Program

From the 1930s to the late 1980s, the Boston Public Schools ran a summer gardening program for school aged children from Boston at Babylon Hill on Blanchard Road. The program and location was known as the “Woburn Garden”

Children were bused out three days a week to learn how to grow their own food using methods attuned to nature, go on nature walks, and play games with children from different neighborhoods. Their families benefited as well because the children got to take home the fresh vegetables they had grown.

The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway.

Michael Pollan

POINT OF VIEW:


In the last two decades, The City of Boston has used money from the care and maintenance trust fund to hire consultants and lawyers to explore ways to sell Mary Cummings Park.


City may tap ‘30s gift to aid Greenway Commission urges sale of 218-acre trust to pay for park maintenanceBy Thomas C. Palmer Jr., Globe Staff | August 18, 2005Money to endow and care for the new Rose Kennedy Greenway could come from an unlikely source: a couple hundred acres of wooded land and fields bequeathed to the city 75 years ago.In a letter last week to Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the Boston Finance Commission, an agency that serves as a watchdog of city finances, said the city could tap the Cummings Trust, which holds 218 acres of idle land in Burlington and Woburn estimated to be worth $30 million.

Flirting with Development

Since the 1980s, Mary Cummings Park has been subjected to repeated attempts by the City of Boston to alter the terms of the trust, “to keep the same forever open as a public pleasure ground”, in order to be able to sell the land. However, time and time again, Massachusetts Attorney Generals have declined to support the City’s requests.

The neighboring Whispering Hill Woods, 75 acres of forest which cuts deeply into the park, nearly succumbed to a proposed development of 540 apartment units of housing. This development was only averted by local advocacy and economic difficulties by its proponents following the start of the “Great Recession”.

And then through sustained advocacy by a Northeastern student group, HEAT (Husky Environmental Action Team), the Friends of Mary Cummings Park, and Woburn Residents Environmental Network and the support of Woburn’s leadership, the land was purchased by the City of Woburn, to be permanently protected.

It is only through the continuing support and advocacy by those that care about and enjoy this land that both Mary Cummings Park and Whispering Hill will be preserved for future generations.


Boundary of Mary Cummings Parks

Watershed Boundary

Major Trails

NHESP Boundary

Existing Conservation Areas

Areas of Conservation Interest


The Park Today

The Park today is at the boundary of two watersheds, adjoins considerable protected conservation land, and also overlaps a large priority habitat for rare species, which is part of the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

Activities include day hikes, light backpacking, nature walks, snowshoeing, cross country skiing or trail running on miles of trails, volunteer work to keep the trails clean and clear, scouting, geocaching, picnics and picnicking, nature photography, RC model airplane flying through the Burlington RC Flyers club, kite flying at Central or Babylon Hill Fields, and birding and bird watching in various habitat areas.

However, day to day active management of the park has been absent for quite some time, leaving it largely up to volunteers to keep the park open by clearing trash, removing abandoned vehicles and clearing blown down trees and overgrowth on the trails. Program activities that once attracted hundreds of children at a time for Summer Camps and Gardening haven’t been active for nearly the last quarter century.


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Mary Cummings Park is one of the largest parks in metropolitan Boston.


Mary Cummings Park as Open Space

1. The Blue Hills Reservation Quincy, Dedham, Milton, Randolph (7,000 acres)

2. Lynn Woods Reservation, Lynn (2,200 acres)

3. The Middlesex Fells Reservation, Malden, Medford, Stoneham, Melrose, Winchester (2,060 acres)

4. Cutler Park, Needham, Dedham (700 acres, mostly wetlands)

5. Breakheart Reservation, Saugus (640 acres)

6. Rumney Marsh Reservation, Saugus, Revere (600 acres)

7. Franklin Park (including Zoo and golf course), Boston (527 acres)

8. Horn Pond Recreation Area, Woburn (500 acres)

9. Stony Brook Reservation – West Roxbury, Hyde Park (475 acres)

10. Mary Cummings Park (210 acres) & Whispering Hill Woods (75 acres), Burlington, Woburn

11. Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, Boston (265 acres)

12. Prospect Hill Park, Waltham (250 acres)

13. Salem Woods at Highland Park, Salem (129 acres)

14. Alewife Reservation - Cambridge, Arlington, Somerville (120 acres)

15. Pine Banks Park, Melrose, Malden (107 acres)

25Friends of Mary Cummings Park • Vision for Mary Cummings Park • 2012Mary Cummings Park, along with Whispering Hill Woods, is an oasis of green in a highly developed area.


◆ Habitat Management and Restoration

• Meadows

• Wetlands

• Forest

• The Thicket

• Priority Habitat for Rare Species

◆ Summer Camp Program

◆ Gardening Program

◆ Trails

• Trail Entrances

• Trail Marking

• Whispering Hill

A Plan

◆ Babylon Hill Field

• Soccer Field

• Garden Program

• Habitat

◆ Flyers Field

• RC Club

• Burlington Community Life Center NYPUM program

• Habitat

◆ Central Field

◆ Northeastern University Burlington Campus

Encompassing over 200 acres, and adjacent to another nearly 100 acres of conservation and recreation land, Mary Cummings Park provides for many opportunities for wildlife and for recreation. We hope this document will help provide a starting point for planning and management efforts.



Habitat Management and Restoration

The variety of habitat in Mary Cummings Park calls for a comprehensive Management and Restoration Plan. Some areas of the park have thrived in spite of neglect, others are overrun by invasive species. The meadows, fields, and thickets will revert to forest without active management.

The Friends of Mary Cummings strongly sees a need for a land survey and management plan, such as the one proposed by the Mass Audubon Society of Ecological Extension Service.

Don’t we need to know what we have at Mary Cummings Park before we make further changes? A comprehensive assessment and plan is required!

POINT OF VIEW:


The meadows at the Park support many birds and butterfly species.


Habitat: Meadows

The remaining meadows at Mary Cummings Park are a precious remnant of the farming life that once took place in Burlington and Woburn. These meadows still have major significance for bird life and other wild species.

As the name implies Central Field is located at approximately the center of the park, just uphill from the camp ground. For at least a few decades this field was kept as a meadow with yearly mowing to keep the brush from encroaching. In addition to providing aesthetically pleasing vistas, keeping this field open has allowed for many ad hoc recreational uses. However, in recent years seasonal mowing was suspended and the meadow is being encroached upon by brush blocking some vistas and changing the character of the park. Resumption of yearly mowing is desirable.

A plan for maintaining the this field as a large, open meadow is an important goal.

Flyers Field

Central Field

Babylon Hill Field


Placeholder for an inspiring photo of the wetlands in Mary Cummings Park.


Habitat: Wetlands

The critical role that wetlands play in water supply and flood control are well known.

The extensive wetlands, streams, and vernal (seasonal) pools at Mary Cummings Park provide a wide variety of wetlands habitat for wildlife.

A comprehensive plan should include continued protection of wetland areas and consider ways the public might be able to enjoy and explore the areas.

Wetlands


Mature forests with towering canopies are a feature of Mary Cummings Park (and neighboring Whispering Hill Woods).


Habitat: Forest

While the major forest in the area is within adjoining Whispering Hill Woods, a considerable portion of Mary Cummings Park is forest, with a variety of species.

Nearly all of the upland wooded areas are designated by NHESP (Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program) as priority habitat for rare species. This designation recognizes the regional importance of this park’s habitat, but it also means that a forest management plan should be created and submitted to the Commonwealth.

Forest


Although the thicket is currently inhabited with a wide variety of invasive species, it nevertheless provides dense cover and food sources for birds and other wildlife.


Habitat: Thicket

The thicket that has grown up does include many invasive species, but also provides both cover and food for many songbirds. Any plan for the park should include a thoughtful approach to dealing with the thicket.

the Thicket


The Massachusetts Butterfly Club identified over 50 species in Mary Cummings Park. (photo by Howard Hoople)


Priority Habitat for Rare Species

The large and varied environment at Mary Cummings Park makes it a home to wide variety of insect, reptile, bird and mammal species. Much of the Park lies inside the Massachusetts NHESP area, which is the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

The rare Oak Hairstreak butterfly has been spotted at Mary Cummings Park.


Mary Cummings Park has been, and continues to be, a rare location where a child can learn to go camping in metropolitan Boston.


The Camp Ground

The campground at Mary Cummings Park has been used by small groups of scouts for overnight trips and in the past large groups of up to 400 kids for day programs.

Various programs over the years, including Kamp for Kidz and Camp Wilderness activities and more recently is the site for overnight scout trips. When not used for organized activities it provides a great location for picnics and a meeting spot for groups going on hikes. Future use

The site and surrounding woods, centrally located within the park provide a rare space for a camp ground in greater Boston. The area should be maintained in order to be used for that purpose.

“In my estimation this can become a marvelous recreation centre and city camp for thousands of our children and mothers as well as for older boys girls and our adult population. As a picnic ground and delightful outdoor health and recreation centre it would surely place Boston in the forefront of American cities.”

- A.R. Wellington, of the National Recreational Association in a letter to Mayor Curley, 1931

A Letter...


The Garden Program could be educational, great recreation, and a good connection to the emerging understanding of the value of locally grown food.


The Gardening Program

For many years the Boston Public Schools ran a summer gardening program for school aged children at and around the Babylon Hill field. The program was called “Woburn Gardens”. The need and demand for this kind of summer program has not diminished since the funding was cut in 1991.

Today there are various non-profit groups in the Metropolitan Boston area which run programs similar to the old program where children are given the opportunity to grow vegetables, learn about agriculture and their local heritage, while having some fun in the fresh air and in the sun. The non-profit groups that run these programs are always looking for additional locations to expand. Given the historic use of this site for gardening and educational purposes, a restoration of the children’s garden program which could work in conjunction with a community garden program would be a welcome addition the park. Seeing fields of growing vegetables would bring the aesthetic value of a traditional New England farm back to a park which was once one of the areas most productive farms.

“A restoration of the children’s garden program would bring the aesthetic value of a traditional New England farm back to a park which was once one of the areas most productive farms.”

“But where is the overall plan for the land? We shouldn’t just build something new here or there without an overall plan that is based on a sound environmental assessment.”

POINT OF VIEW:


Well-marked trails are part of our vision for Mary Cummings Park.


A Trail System

There are a number of informal trails in the park, many of which the Friends of Mary Cummings Park work to maintain.

A well maintained network of trails should be designed to allow public enjoyment of the park and protect wildlife habitat in accordance with best practices. Maintenance should be done with consideration for the effects on wildlife.

In addition to basic trail markings, there can also be historical and nature oriented signage to let visitors know about the history and ecology of different areas of the park.

Connections should be made to trails that are planned for Whispering Hill Woods. Trail Markings can also be coordinated between Whispering Hill and Mary Cummings. Also, connections can be made to the bike path on Blanchard Rd.

Along with well-marked trails, we look forward to more welcoming signage at park entrances.


Burlington Recreation Department is proceeding with building soccer fields in Mary Cummings Park.


Babylon Hill Field

In March, 2012, work began at Babylon Hill Field to create a soccer field. The work is being funded by the Town of Burlington and use of the new field will be managed by the Town’s Recreation Department. Along with the playing field, there will be public parking for approximately 60 cars, an accessible loop trail around the field with access to the park’s trails. Space has been designated for a future garden area and a children’s playground.

POINTS OF VIEW:

“The field should be maintained as an open meadow to support wildlife and it can be enjoyed by people for its natural aesthetic value. ”

“The field should be used for a children’s gardening program like the one that was successful for over 40 years.”

“A soccer field is a good recreational use of the land, just as Mary Cummings intended.”


The meadow at Flyer’s Field is home to the active Burlington RC flyers.


Flyers Field

For several decades the Burlington RC Flyers, a radio controlled model airplane club has maintained a field for flying their planes. This field has been well maintained and cared for by the club over this time period, while being kept open to the public. There are over one hundred members of this club from many of the surrounding communities who enjoy their hobby. This is a very low impact activity and the field itself is sloped with not much level ground for any other active recreational use.


A view from Central Field at Mary Cummings Park.


Central Field

As the name implies Central Field is located at approximately the center of the park, just uphill from the camp ground. For the at least a few decades this field has been kept as a meadow with yearly mowing to keep the brush from encroaching. In addition to providing aesthetically pleasing vistas, keeping this field open has allowed for many ad hoc recreational uses. However, in recent years seasonal mowing was suspended and the meadow is being encroached upon by brush, blocking some vistas and changing habitat. An environmental assessment and management plan for the park will help determine how to best preserve this habitat.

Sumac and other growth is starting to take over Central Field.


Whispering Hill Woods is an ideal “sister” to Mary Cummings Park, with large, tall forested areas, and vestiges of history.


Whispering Hill Woods

Most of the 74.5 acres of the Whispering Hill Woods parcel has been left in a natural state for many decades. The result has been the creation of a vibrant green oasis which along with the surrounding park land has been recognized by the State of Massachusetts as a Priority Habitat for Rare Species.

Now that this land has been purchased by the City of Woburn, there is a major opportunity to create a park that joins with Mary Cummings Park to create an oasis of natural space, and a link in the regional greenway.


The Northeastern Suburban Campus lies entirely within Mary Cummings Park.


Northeastern University Burlington Campus

The presence of a modern university in the middle of the park presents many opportunities.

• Northeastern can further its educational outreach programs and goals by establishing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education) program for middle and high school students based at the Burlington Campus and using the surrounding park for recreational and engaging activities.

• The Kostas Institute with it mission areas in Homeland Security, computers and robotics can contribute to STEM outreach programs and possibly utilize the Flyers Field for micro UAV robotics

• Environmental Science and/or Education Programs may use the park for both short and long term field studies as well as training student educators in conjunction with the STEM outreach.

• The aesthetic interface between the Burlington Campus and surrounding parkland could be improved to make the campus a more inviting place to work and hold conferences.

• Northeastern University could play a more active role in supporting active management of the park


Seven Springs

Muller Glen

Office Parks

Northeastern University Expansion

Whispering Hills Development (Averted)

Seven SpringsPhase 2

Mary Cummings Park

Converted Army Housing

Gas Pipeline


Development In and Around the Park

The land of Mary Cummings Park has seen some big transformations.

One large piece was taken by the federal government for a missile base, then sold to Northeastern.

A gas pipeline was run through the park.

The Seven Springs project turned a sand and gravel pit into a series of high density multi-family homes. The next phase of this project, right across the road from Mary Cummings Park, is now under way.

The Muller Glen project may add 33 housing units right on the border of Mary Cummings Park.

Major office buildings have been built right across Blanchard Road from the Park.

Northeastern has built a major new building on their land, surrounded by the Park.

500+ home development for Whispering Hills was narrowly averted.

In spite of the development incursions in and around it, Mary Cummings Park remains a place where a visitor can experience wide-open vistas with almost no man-made intrusions.



Conclusions

The future of Mary Cummings Park is not guaranteed.

What happens to it depends on the will of the people who care about it.

There is a wide spectrum of choices ranging from continued neglect to proper use to complete devastation by development. What happens will depend on the opinions and actions of people like you.

What is your vision?

What is your vision for the future of the park?

YOUR POINT OF VIEW:


Because it has open meadows with tall grasses and weeds, Mary Cummings Park is one of the few places left where you can see lightning bugs on a summer night.

Friends of Mary Cummings Parkwww.cummingspark.org [email protected]

Design: Jonathan Sachs Graphics • www.jonsachs.com

Documents

A Vision for Mary Cummings Park