Urban Wilds

As with most of my secret, green gems of Boston, the Sherrin St. Woods Urban Wild is an incredibly diverse area, for both plants and wildlife. With this being the second largest urban wild in Boston, it encompasses both large rock outcroppings surrounded by old forest and low-growth wetlands. The trails around the large Pine Rock, provide a great space to run, walk dogs, or even just to take an afternoon stroll.

The large flat spaces on the property, along with the large rocks that provide great seating within the forest itself, this place is the ideal spot for picnics. And with a playground bordering the western edge of the property, make it an all day out for you and your friends and loved ones!!! 

Belle Isle Marsh in Winthrop is an amazing piece of land with an amazing story behind it. Restored from a brown site, a site that is so degraded and contaminated that almost nothing can grow there, in 2005, this beautiful salt marsh provides an amazing view of the sunrise on the water.

Looking for a place to go in the afternoons that is quiet, green and peaceful? Or maybe a running trail for the mornings that doesn’t involve heavy traffic or tons of people? Why not stop by the Bussey Brook Meadow Urban Wild. Right next to the Forest Hills T stop this beautiful spot connects the green of the Southwest Corridor Bike Trail to the amazing Arnold Arboretum. 

This urban wild is comprised of lush meadows and beautiful forest that provide the illusion that the city is miles away. And with the Bussey Brook passing through the property, it is truly a gem of Boston.

If any of you have every walked around on Mission Hill in Boston, you have undoubtedly seen the giant part, McLaughlin Playground, that covers the very top of the hill. However, if you have never been up there, now might be the time to find out what you are missing. 

Inside this green gem is a plethora of apple trees that leave the Hill smelling like a glass of cider in the fall time, amazing places to play frisbee or soccer, and some amazing views of the city. Since the Parker Hilltop Urban Wild, attached to the highest level of McLaughlin Park, is one of the highest places in the city the views of downtown and Back Bay are amazing.

In the warmer months it is a great spot to picnic and then run around to burn off all those calories you just at, or to take your dog for a real day in the park.

It is amazing the number of spots in Boston that people just walk past without ever even thinking about exploring, and McLaughlin Playground is definitely one of the ones worth exploring.

Sticking in East Boston from my last post, another great little spot to sit down and relax is the Rockies Urban Wild. This small plot of land is a sharply sloped orchard/meadow located right across Piers Park, which has the most amazing view of the skyline. So looking for the perfect afternoon? Look no further than this lovely urban wild.

Just a quick walk from the Maverick T stop on the Blue line, the Rockies is a fully functioning public orchard with apples, plums, cherries. And with a community garden right next door where plots are available to rent, you can grow anything else that you need! Not to mention, if you are feeling too lazy to grow your own food, there is an amazing Australian pie shop a five-minute walk down the road. 

Head on over to East Boston to view some of the most amazing salt marshes and the Chelsea River. Condor Street Urban Wild is unique to all of the other urban wilds in Boston because of the coastal habitat feel provided by the salt marshes and meadow grasses found on site. After an amazing transformation in 2003, this site was designed to highlight the ecology and history of the Chelsea. 

Enjoy amazing views from the top of a large, hill with some friends and food or sit on the overlook enjoying a coffee and watching the barges go down the river. With a playground and basketball courts right nearby, it’s a great place to bring kids, and with the view available, who wouldn’t want to run on the paved walking paths. 

Allandale Woods is probably the best-kept secret of Boston. This huge forested area covers just under 100 acres of land on the West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain border. With a wide variety of hiking trails of varying difficulties, this beautiful land consists of a diverse group of habitats, from large, rocky outcroppings and low wet areas. It’s these low areas that make Allandale Woods home to the one and only certified vernal pool in Boston. The vernal pool provides a place for amphibians, such as salamanders and frogs, to breed in the spring. 

The tall rock outcroppings provide a great place to do some hiking without having to leave the city; and with lots of flat areas towards the top, bring a picnic and stop to enjoy the view. In just a short T ride down to Forest Hills, and a beautiful walk through the Arnold Arboretum, you can experience a place where the city isn’t even visible. 

Looking for a nice quiet place to sit and relax on a summer afternoon? Located right in between Mission Hill and Jamaica Plain, Nira Rock is a perfect gem located in the rough of the city. Surrounded by Centre St. on one side and the VA Hospital on the other, this urban wild provides a small sanctuary complete with rock climbing capabilities, an orchard, and lookout views of the city, it is someplace you definitely want to visit. 

Nira Rock is located on a former quarry where the Boston famous Roxbury Puddingstone is found. A beautiful rock face ornaments the lower level of the urban wild and creates the feeling that you really are out in the wild. When the land was repurposed as a park, several kinds of fruit trees were planted; including cherry, apple, pear, and plum. There are also blueberry and raspberry bushes that are all available for the public to sample and enjoy. 

Looking for somewhere to bring the kids for a day outdoors? There is a playground right next to this urban wild that provides a great opportunity for kids to get outside and play! Take them up to the higher level of the urban wild to get amazing views of the city and a perfect photo opportunity.

When looking for green space in Boston you generally have two choices... the first being the giant, tourist filled parks like the Boston Commons and Jamaica Pond; or you get the sketchy, wouldn’t walk here alone at night (or maybe even the day) parks. As a nature lover and person who did not grow up in a city, I was desperate for actual green space that I could enjoy without a hundred tourists snapping cute selfies around me. 

When I first got a co-op with the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, I thought, “Finally, the chance to get out and experience the green of Boston!” And I was right. My first day on the job was at an urban wild not 10 minutes walk from my apartment, and I had never known it was there.

So now the big question is, what is an urban wild. 

In the city of Boston, an urban wild is considered a green space that is not constantly maintained by a crew of workers. Essential a space where actual nature can come through instead of perfectly mowed grass with perfectly spaced trees, and in Boston there are a variety to experience. 

There are a total of 35 urban wilds in Boston, some nicer than others, of all different sizes and a huge variety of landscapes. Here I will show the spots in Boston where, from a tiny cliff top to a 100 acre wood, nature really does come through.