Arlington Land Trust

Protecting Open Spaces in Arlington

Local Events

Spy Pond Scavenger Hunts

Since the annual Spy Pond Park Fun Day had to be cancelled this year, the Friends of Spy Pond Park created two activities that families, teenagers and adults can do while wearing masks and staying socially distanced in and near Spy Pond Park.

A Public Art Hunt is fun for all ages including preschoolers. Click here for the images of 7 pieces of public art in Spy Pond Park and the bike path above it.

The History Mysteries Hunt uses QR codes to take you around the park to find out what was happening around Spy Pond in the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s, late 1900s and today. All you have to do is point your smartphone camera at the codes. Click here for the first clue to get you started.

Fall Volunteer Projects

After a hot, dry summer, many of our parks and conservation lands are in need of TLC before fall and winter weather sets in. Following are some scheduled clean-ups and stewardship projects that would appreciate volunteer assistance.

Arlington Reservoir Clean-up

Saturday, September 26,
9 am – 12 noon

The Arlington Reservoir Committee has scheduled a clean-up of the Wildlife Habitat Garden and surrounding areas of the Reservoir off Lowell Street. Bring your own tools (such as wheelbarrow, rakes, spades, loppers, clippers, gloves, etc.) and help tame the overgrown grasses and invasive plants in and around the garden. Members of the committee will be on hand to direct newcomers and welcome veteran volunteers to help prepare the garden for the winter.

Arlington’s Great Meadows
Boardwalk Repair

Friends of Arlington’s Great Meadows is organizing boardwalk repair activities during September. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and construction requirements, the Friends have assembled all the needed materials and have prepared an instructional video. You will be guided on what tools to bring with you and asked to form small teams of family or friends to work together. To learn more about how to participate in these boardwalk repair projects, email David White. 

Note that demolition work at the former nursing home next to Arlington’s Great Meadows in East Lexington is about half done, and currently there is no AGM access from that property. Instead, follow a nearby access path about halfway behind the Emerson Gardens complex off Maple Street in Lexington. It’s marked with an AGM post and a no dumping sign. Please park on the main Emerson Gardens Road, not in the resident parking areas. Alternatively, you can park behind the Waldorf School on Mass Ave. in East Lexington or follow the Minuteman Bikeway to AGM.

Spy Pond Park Work Day

Saturday, October 17, 8-10 am
(rain date Sunday, October 18,
8-10 am)

The Friends of Spy Pond Park will hold their final work day of 2020 to undertake such tasks as removing grass between the cobblestones lining the path through the park and weeding the planting beds, pulling invasive plants, picking up litter, and grooming the tot lot. Meet near the boat ramp at 40 Pond Lane.
Volunteers must register in advance and liability waivers are required for all participants. Please download the waiver form from the FSPP website, fill it out completely, sign it (parental signature for under 18 yrs.), and send a scan or photo of it to fspp@friendsofspypondpark.org by 6 p.m. the Friday before the scheduled Work Day.

Mill Brook Video

Award winning video producer and Arlington resident Glenn Litton has worked with representatives of the Old Schwamb Mill to create a short video entitled Mill Brook Rediscovered.

The video was developed to complement the exhibit, “A Brook Runs Through It: Arlington’s Mill Brook Legacy,” which was shown at the Mill, 17 Mill Lane in Arlington Heights, from September 2018 until June 2019. An adapted version of the Mill Brook exhibit will be shown in the Town Hall Gallery from March 2 to April 30, 2020.

 See www.oldschwambmill.org for more information.