Boston College and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority will host a ceremony on September 25 at 11:30 a.m. to celebrate the opening of Pine Tree Preserve, a previously inaccessible four-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir that has been opened through a public access and management agreement between BC and the MWRA.
Boston College President William P. Leahy, S.J., and MWRA Executive Director Frederick Laskey will offer remarks at the opening, which will be attended by state administrators, elected officials, local residents, and members of the BC community.
The site, located on Thomas More Road in Chestnut Hill and owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, had been enclosed by fencing for the past 50 years.
It now features pedestrian walkways, park benches, lighting, and a beautiful view of the reservoir and surrounding area.
The agreement to open Pine Tree Preserve resulted from conversations between the MWRA, which has sought to open enclosed parcels of state land to the public in recent years, and Boston College, which had long viewed the fenced-in woodlands as an underutilized resource. Under the agreement, BC funded the improvements and will oversee maintenance of the property, while the MWRA will retain ownership.
Jack Dunn | University Communications | September 2019