Take a walk around Arlington, and there are plenty of historic and cultural sites to see as well as parks and conservation land — but you may not know where they are.
The town’s Open Space Committee hopes to change that with a project called Connecting Arlington.
The plan is to spell out routes around town that encourage residents to walk more by mapping points of interest along easily walked routes. The group met Jan. 14 at the Fox Library to hear suggestions about its pilot project in East Arlington, the first area that will be mapped. About 15 people, including members of the committee, attended.
Kelsey Cowen, a volunteer with the committee, said the project was inspired in part by a project called Across Lexington, which has mapped out routes that connect conservation and recreation land.
The Lexington group provides walkers with a map that details historic points of interest and outlines four routes that include conservation land trails, open space and the Minuteman Bikeway.
While some of the residents at the Arlington meeting tweaked a preliminary route map of East Arlington, noting which streets offer the best pathways, others were concerned about safety and liability.
Early ideas include taking advantage of Spy Pond, the bikeway and Alewife Brook Reservation while pointing out such resources as Waldo Playground, the Crosby School Park and Playground, the Fox Library and the Arlington Center for the Arts. Maps might include mileage for each route as well as approximate walking time.
Anne LeRoyer, chair of the committee, said a long-term goal might be to get funding to pay for signs and also to determine the best way to make the program known to residents. Maps and brochures, she said are a possibility, as is using the Internet.
The committee will be asking volunteers to walk the planned routes and report back to make sure they are safe and accessible.
Anyone interested in making suggestions can contact connectingarlington[@]gmail.com
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This report was published Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016.
