This path lies on a sewer easement on private property in West Newton. It connects Wildwood Ave. to Fessenden School’s track and playing fields, which then connects to Albemarle Rd near the pedestrian/bicycle footbridge to F. A. Day Middle School.
Map
Access from Wildwood Ave:
Access from Albemarle Rd:
Existing surfaces
The connection at Wildwood Ave is from a concrete sidewalk. Ramped packed stone dust just off Wildwood Ave. On private land, the surface is mulch with protruding sewer access castings. In this section, the path is about 4 to 5 feet wide with botanical obstructions. At Fessenden, the surface is grass with worn paths. There is a downhill grade to Albemarle Rd.
Description
This path is perhaps the busiest pedestrian and bicycle access route to F. A. Day Middle School. It serves the neighborhoods to the west, including the Franklin and Burr School districts. It is also the shortest walking path from residences south of Watertown Street for students who prefer to avoid the busy Watertown/Albemarle intersection. In addition to student access, this path serves the neighborhood accessing Cheesecake Brook, the playing fields at Albemarle and Fessenden, and access to the Charles River.
Pictures
This is a 360° video from a walkthrough of the path. You can pan around to change your viewing direction:
Ownership
Just off the sidewalk at Wildwood Ave, the path is city property. It quickly becomes an easement over private land. It then connects to property owned by Fessenden School.
UPDATE: @jeremyfreudberg found out that the city has a grant to this easement for pedestrian access. See:
One more document of interest. Excerpt from page 2: “The purpose and scope of this easement is to allow for pedestrian passage by the general public, on foot and in wheelchairs and similar devices for the handicapped; and to allow the City of Newton to make such improvements as are necessary to improve and maintain the footway, at the sole expense of the City.”
In any case, I’m not qualified to give a definitive answer to any question. Mike, thanks for asking around.
Personally, the wheels in my head are turning. Does the legitimacy of the path mean anything for the design of improvements on Albemarle Road / exact location of new permanent bridge? Also, in this example, it appears that the City got lucky and acquired an easement for free as new construction went up on vacant land. Is there anywhere today where the City should consider a friendly taking that would enhance pedestrian and bicycle connectivity?
As for the location of the permanent bridge, I suspect the “temporary” bridge is in effect a permanent bridge. It would be better to move it to this location (it would save contraflow pedestrian/bike movements on the SB side of Albemarle), but the expense of moving it that relatively short distance is likely significant.
If seems like there may not be institutional memory for these kinds of footpaths like there are for other public ways. As you suggest Jeremy, it’s useful forward-looking, but we don’t even know how many already exist I’d bet.
