Save Webster Woods | Chuck Anastas, Chair

Webster Woods in Newton sits in the middle of the greater 114-acre Webster Conservation Area and includes the State-owned and DCR managed Hammond Pond Reservation and Hammond Pond Parkway.

On an unseasonably cold and gray November Sunday afternoon, I walked the perimeter of Webster Woods. It’s rough terrain with rock outcroppings everywhere, made walking even more difficult under slippery fallen leaves. Despite the weather, I ran into a number of hikers and dogwalkers along the way. Although there were none on this particular Sunday, this area is a favorite of rock climbers. With names like Cake Rock and Gooche’s Cave marked on the map – it would have been fun to watch them on these and other challenging rock faces. Maybe another time.

Mayor Ruthanne Fuller is leading the effort to preserve 17 acres of the 25 acres of Webster Woods owned by Boston College. After talks between the City and Boston College broke down, Mayor Fuller proposed taking the land by eminent domain, and the Newton Community Preservation Committee voted to bond the $25 million taking during a public hearing earlier this month. Newton’s City Council will consider the purchase later in November and early December.

MCV places a high value on saving open space that abuts State-owned property managed by DCR. As we’ve seen, once open space is developed, it is a near-impossible struggle to regain it – see Franklin Park and the efforts to restore part of its lost open space:

There’s a long history of communities and neighborhoods struggling with university expansion. Tax-exempt colleges and universities, of course, are under no obligation to be good neighbors. But it always seems somewhat of a surprise when they are not – after all, avoiding local property taxes is an enormous gift that communities give to these institutions.

Boston College has taken every opportunity to remind the City of all that the College has done for the community. Perhaps it should be reminded of what the City has done by forgoing millions of dollars in property taxes to its good neighbor. And Boston College isn’t the only university that has attempted to bully a community in getting its way. Nahant is presently struggling with Northeastern University’s plans to build on one of the few remaining urban public spaces along Boston Harbor. Although not directly abutting the DCR managed Nahant Beach Reservation, it’s only a short distance away. It offers spectacular views of the Boston Harbor and skyline (full disclosure – I am a paid consultant to the Nahant Preservation Trust, which is battling the University’s proposed development).

The Webster Conservation Area is a bounty of green in the middle of a densely developed area. But on the Sunday of my visit, the sounds of distant traffic suddenly disappeared. A brief snow squall moved in, dropping some of the first snow of the season, and everything seemed quiet and peaceful and still.  

MCV applauds Mayor Fuller for both attempting to work with Boston College and when that failed in moving boldly to protect Webster Woods. We sincerely hope that the Newton City Council will follow the lead of the Mayor, the Newton Community Preservation Program, and the many other supporters and vote to save this land for the public good. Better yet, we hope that Boston College will reconsider its position.

The City of Newton has agreed to allow redevelopment of the eight acres fronting DCR’s Hammond Pond Parkway in return for saving the back 17 acres from development. It is time for Boston College to recognize the importance of preserving this public recreational and conservation area. It’s what a good neighbor might do.

To see photos of the Webster Conservation Area and Hammond Pond, click here. Photos courtesy of Newton Conservators.