Kids’ Trails Day at Wellesley’s Morses Pond a hit
The Wellesley Trails Committee attracted more than 100 people, young and older, to its annual Kids’ Trails Day event this past Sunday at Morses Pond.
Kids took part in a scavenger hunt through the woods, following clues to find prizes in nature amidst the fall foliage.
Participants were also rewarded with cider and donuts, generously donated by Whole Foods, when they finished the rounds.
Explore some of the Trails Committee’s favorite walks & consider taking part in its guided walk at Boulder Brook on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 9am.
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Mass Hort aims for better Elm Bank Reservation access
The Massachusetts Horticultural Society, which calls the Elm Bank Reservation on the Wellesley/Dover line its home, is seeking to improve public and emergency access to that location.
Mass Hort Executive Director James Hearsum and Board Chair Gretel Anspach have reached out to members seeking their support for this issue by asking them to reach out to the local legislature in support of a bill that would direct the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation to conduct a study of Elm Bank’s accessibility.
The bill reads in part: “The report shall consider, without limitation, the purchasing of private land and the maintenance, construction and rehabilitation of current state-owned land. The report shall also identify long term expansion and rehabilitation of the current Elm Bank Reservation to maximize public use…”
Access to Elm Bank is mainly limited to the one-way Cheney Bridge (limited to a 12-ton capacity, not sufficient for buses or large emergency vehicles), where backed up drivers don’t always play nicely.
Mass Hort hopeful that vacant Elm Bank manor house has lots of life left
Back access through private road Turtle Lane is limited to emergency access.
Among talking points shared by Mass Hort is that “any study of access to Elm Bank should explore alternative avenues, if any, over the river onto Elm Bank Reservation.”
Elm Bank use peaked in recent years during the pandemic, when people poured into the park as a place to get outside, in theory away from other people…
Access to the gardens at Elm Bank has evolved over the years. They were once freely open to the public, but Mass Hort in attempts to save the flowers and plants from loose dogs and in an effort to become more financially stable, put up fencing and started charging people. The surrounding park has remained freely accessible for soccer, walking, kayaking/canoeing, running, biking, and other activities.
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Kids’ Trails Day coming to Wellesley’s Morses Pond area
Kids’ Trails Day at Morses Pond
Sunday, October 22 – (10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.)
Join with the Wellesley Trails Committee and celebrate fall. Get your kids out into the woods to have fun and explore nature. Children will look for treasure boxes using letterboxing (written clues). Refreshments served at the end of the activities. No registration required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the Morses Pond beach parking lot, which will be open for this event. From Weston Rd, follow Turner Rd to the entrance to Morses Pond, follow access road for 0.3 mi, and parking lot is on your right.
Wellesley Turkey Trot ’23 registration opens
The Wellesley Turkey Trot returns to Linden Square this Thanksgiving morning with a 5K run, plus a fun run for kids 10 and under, all in support of good local causes. Registration has opened.
This Wellesley tradition kicks off at 8am on Thursday, Nov. 23, with 5K race participants following a course from Linden Square that traverses through Wellesley Square and the Wellesley College campus before returning to Linden Square. Awards are given to individuals and teams, with special awards to the fastest Wellesley High students and alums.
The Hannah Randolph Fun Run for kids starts at 8:45am in the back of the parking lot near CVS.
The event is always a great way to see friends and burn off a few calories before filling up on Thanksgiving Day.
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Wellesley trails signs get makeovers
The fancy signs on the Brook Path at State Street and Crosstown Trail at Washington Street have been refurbished thanks to efforts by the Wellesley Trails Committee and craftsman Stephen Garrity, who is renowned for his sign work at restaurants and other locations in the area.
Follow Wellesley Trails Committee on Facebook
(Disclaimer: I’m a Trails Committee member.)