Suburban life does not always offer the wide, open green spaces that were once the promise of these cities and towns within proximity of the city. With rampant industrial, commercial and residential development in many of our communities, these natural settings indeed seem to be dwindling in many areas.

South of Boston, Mass., the Neponset River Watershed, fortunately, contributes mightily to a region that has more open spaces than one would ever imagine.  Covering 129 square miles of land that drain into the Neponset River, the Watershed offers an abundance of open spaces permanently protected by state, local, private and federal agencies. That’s good news for the 330,000 area residents that like some space to run around and outdoor recreational opportunities like walking, hiking, cross country skiing, fishing and biking. The scenery is frequently fantastic, too!

Our favorite watershed destinations are Stony Brook Reservation in Norfolk, Hale Reservation in Westwood, and Borderland State Park in Easton. We strongly encourage you to log onto the Neponset River Watershed Web Site to explore all the opportunities that grace the area.