Choosing a walking route “ dry cleaner distance/miles r $ These routes are designed to let you leave the hospitals e N bank 1 8 t walkB 1.5 n and institutions behind and explore the adjacent South drugstore w ‘ | End neighborhood. Many sides of the community are e N restaurant 2 highlighted—charming residential squares, public C W l buildings, the SOWA [South of Washington Street] a a a arts/gallery district, and Restaurant Row. Routes c 1/2 mile l i range from 1-3 miles, progressing in length as the k d l s route numbers increase. Choose a walk that fits the e k i time you have available and the sights you want to n M see, or make it a goal to walk all six. t y B h t i e Running your errands s r B o e The South End has convenient shops, banks, drug stores, M v dry cleaners and restaurants—great for running quick i C n s errands. A lunchtime walk is a perfect opportunity / U to get some fresh air and exercise while doing your B U t errands. Shopping at the end of your walk means you n M o o will not carry things the whole way. t C s o Finding transit connections n n B e / The BMC/BUMC campus has many transit options i r g e within easy walking distance [1 mile = 20-25 minutes]. h t • Washington Street Silver Line – one block b n o • Massachusetts Avenue Orange Line Station – 1 mile e $ r C • Back Bay Orange Line/Commuter Rail Station – 1.1 mile h o • Symphony Green Line Station – 1.2 mile l o • Prudential Center Green Line Station – 1.2 mile a c d • Copley Square Green Line Station – 1.3 mile i • Boston University Charles River Campus – 3.5 miles d e About WalkBoston M n In its 16 years, WalkBoston has worked on design o t $ $ improvements for pedestrians, education about walkers’ s needs and the delights and possibilities of walking. o $ BMC/BUMC employees get a 10% membership B discount. Join online at www.walkboston.org. y b d e r © o W s walkBoston a l k n M AKING OUR COMMUNITIES MORE WALKABLE B o s o t o n Old City Hall | 45 School Street | Boston MA 02108 | T: 617.367.9255 p 5 / S F: 617.367.9285 | [email protected] | www.walkboston.org 0 6 What to look for: A historic urban center is undergoing 6Southwest Corridor Park Loop BMC/BUMC Neighborhood Walks 1Tremont Street Loop a renaissance of new buildings amid interesting old buildings being revitalized. 2 miles/50 minutes The Boston Medical Center/Boston University Medical 1 mile /20 minutes • Ramsay Park - field named for Red Sox star Jim Rice Follow East Newton, San Juan and Pembroke Streets Center [BMC/BUMC] is located in the South End, a Go up Worcester Street to Tremont and come back via • Eustis St. Fire Station - oldest in Boston [1859] to Braddock Park; turn left into SW Corridor Park; compact and interesting neighborhood that is wonder- Rutland Street. • Eliot Burying Ground [1630] turn left at the Mass Ave. MBTA station, return via ful for walking. For any brief time you have available, What to look for: Mature trees arch over streets and • Owen Nawn Shop & Soap Factory [1815] Massachusetts Ave. walking is the easiest, most pleasant and least form a leafy, shady introduction to brick row houses, • Dudley MBTA station [1901] stressful way to explore the area. What to look for: Old and new houses on Pembroke dooryard gardens, and cast iron fences and railings. • Dudley Heritage Wall - 2278 Washington Street Street lead to a premier linear park in the shadow of Walking is a great way to discover your surroundings • Worcester Square - an original residential square Prudential Center; return through Chester Sq./Mass Ave. and community. One of the best ways to keep fit, it • Public Library - South End Branch • Historic Franklin & Blackstone Squares [1801] incorporates exercise into daily routines. You will • Rutland Street - one of the South End’s most beautiful, 4SOWA [South of Washington] Loop • Pedestrianized streets at Villa Victoria enclave return to the campus revitalized and refreshed, with with a large old elm mid-block 1.5 miles/30 minutes • Harriet Tubman Memorial Park a clear mind. • Rutland Green - a formally planted pocket park Go up Harrison Avenue to Berkeley Street and return • Braddock Park - original South End residential square • South End House & Children’s Art Center Neighborhood walking lets you multi-task. You can via Washington Street. • Southwest Corridor Park - covering MBTA/Amtrak • Haven Street - very quaint frame house run errands, find places to eat, purchase unique or • Titus Sparrow Park - West Newton Street • Community Gardens at Rutland & Washington Sts. What to look for: The newest art gallery district in the essential items. Everything is within walking distance. • Wally’s Cafe - 1950s jazz club, still open, 427 Mass Ave. • Oldest South End cemetery [1810], Washington and city is found in warehouse buildings off Harrison Ave. You can walk with co-workers or meet up with family or • Chester Square - largest original South End residential E. Concord/Rutland Streets • Brick power plant for W. End Street Railway Co. [1896] friends. You can even have a meeting while walking. square, bisected by Mass Ave. in the 1960s - Harrison Ave. The shortest walk can include a stop for a bite, or maybe • SOWA arts and gallery district a rest to sit and people-watch. You’ll be surprised at 2Columbus Avenue Loop • Pine Street Inn - former fire station, yellow brick tower Longer Walks all you can get done—and you’ll get some exercise too. • Red Fez - venerable restaurant, recently restored 1.5 miles/30 minutes 3 miles/60-70 minutes In an hour, you can cover more distance than you • Peters Park - playing fields and courts Go up East Springfield Street to Columbus Avenue; If you can do these, you’re a pro and can probably might imagine. For example, the three long blocks from • New condos and home stores on Washington St. return via West Newton Street. find your way. These can be done before or after work, Harrison Avenue to just beyond Tremont Street take • Cathedral of the Holy Cross [1875] with its large or on the weekend with friends and family! Here are 10-12 minutes to walk, and cover a half-mile. During a What to look for: Spacious Columbus Avenue was collection of stained glass roundtrip of 20-25 minutes, you’ll walk one full mile! originally paved with wood blocks to quiet the clopping some examples that originate at the campus: of horses. It offers a more expansive look at historic The grid pattern of South End streets makes it easy to 5Restaurant Row Loop • Museum of Fine Arts/Northeastern University and houses amid the attractive leafiness of East and West get anywhere. You can go up one block and over two, the Back Bay Fens Springfield and West Newton Streets. or up two and over one, and so forth, always seeing 1.5 miles/30 minutes • Copley Square, Boylston and Newbury Streets • Hurley Elementary School - West Springfield St. something new and interesting. Watch out for confusing Go up Washington Street, left on Union Park Street to • South Bay Mall • Wellington Gardens - Wellington St./Columbus Ave. street names, as they frequently change on either Tremont Street; return via West Brookline Street. • Historic John Eliot Square in Roxbury • Lion statues - 511 Columbus Ave. • Combine route #3 and #6 to create a 3-mile walk side of Washington Street [the only land route into What to look for: The culinary arts are on display on • Columbus Avenue restaurants downtown before this area was filled]. Tremont Street near the Boston Center for the Arts. • Union United Methodist Church [1872] with Titus Getting there, you’ll pass through exquisite Union Park. Resources The South End is full of mature trees that shade its Sparrow Park behind • Cathedral of the Holy Cross [1875] with its large streets, resulting from 1970s city tree planting • Harriet Tubman Square statues • southend.org - calendar, stories, neighborhood orgs collection of stained glass programs. The tradition of greenery dates back to • Jorge Hernandez Cultural Center - Art Gallery • cityofboston.gov/neighborhoods/general.asp?id=18 - • Washington Street shops and restaurants 1795 when Charles Bulfinch laid out Blackstone and • Historic Blackstone & Franklin Squares [1801] organizations, contacts, public buildings • Union Park [1850] - original residential square Franklin Squares. Street names came from towns in • southendhistoricalsociety.org - history, buildings, • Boston Center for the Arts & Calderwood Theatre Massachusetts that were being connected by railroads preservation 3 • Tremont Street Restaurant Row and shops when the South End was being filled and planned. Dudley Square Loop • useaboston.com - artists’ open studios • Villa Victoria - a Latino community enclave with a • WalkBoston: Walking Tours of Boston’s Unique Here are some samples of 1- to 3-mile walks. There’s 1.5 miles/30 minutes colorful ceramic mural honoring Puerto Rican heroes a great deal to see in the South End, so plan your Follow Washington Street to Dudley Square; return via Neighborhoods [two in the South End] through walks, raise your sights and walk farther each time Harrison Avenue. bookstores, WalkBoston [617.367.9255]. you venture out. Text/Bob Sloane Design/ninagarfinkle.com.