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The Plan For Alewife
As submitted to the Belmont Citizen Herald
(published, in a slightly different form, November 26, 2002, as Restoring the reservation - MDC presents Alewife plan, by Arthur Katz / Correspondent)


The concept proposals for each of the Alewife areas to be affected by the Master Plan were presented by Leo Roy, vice president of the Bioengineering Group Inc. of Salem, the consultants who developed the concept plan for the MDC, along with members of his staff.

For Little Pond and Little River in Belmont, there will be shoreline restoration and riparian habitat enhancement, creation of floating islands to provide additional safe wildlife habitat, paths and overlooks for public access, including boardwalks where appropriate, and a boat-launching area with parking.

To the eastward, the stormwater wetlands south of Little River will get water quality improvements, as well as trails, overlooks, and interpretive and educational features.

Where the former A. D. Little parking lot now stands, an East Reservation Wetlands Restoration will be put in place to increase flood storage, improve water quality, improve fish habitat, and provide tree-nesting opportunities and sustainable plant communities. A boat launch and overlook with improved water circulation is also part of the design.

Near the Alewife MBTA station, the Alewife Reservation Gateway will offer a sheltered gathering place, with interpretative features and public art, as well as providing a connection to the parkway and links to other regional paths.

Heading south and north along Alewife Brook Parkway, there will be new pathways, together with significant stream bed restoration and planting, installation of new curbing where needed, installation of historic lighting and addition of sidewalks.

A bridge crossing at Dilboy Field would provide a safe connection between Cambridge, Arlington and Somerville, linking the communities to the regional path network. In addition, there would be access for non-motorized boats at Dilboy Field.

Finally, Mystic Alewife Gateway Park would mark the area where the Alewife joins the Mystic River. Driscoll noted that a request for proposals for a master plan for the river has just been issued.

Roy emphasized, as did the other presenters, that the key element in the overall plan is the connections which will be made between the areas of the reservation and the neighboring communities.