Fresh Pond Reservation, located on the western end of the City of Cambridge, plays a vital role in the health of the citizens of Cambridge by protecting the City’s water supply and providing open, green space for exercising and relaxing.  The Reservation is bordered by Fresh Pond Parkway to the east, Concord Avenue to the north, Grove Street and Blanchard Road to the west, and Huron Avenue to the south.  To the north, east, and south of the Reservation are the neighborhoods of Cambridge Highlands, Neighborhood 9, West Cambridge, and Strawberry Hill.  At the heart of Fresh Pond Reservation are Fresh Pond Reservoir and the Perimeter Road, a 2-¼ mile path that circumscribes the Reservoir. 

 The Fresh Pond Reservation Circulation and Access Plan is being  developed by the City of Cambridge, the Fresh Pond Reservation Advisory Board, Reservation users, and the Bioengineering Group.  The City is looking for ways to increase accessibility of Fresh Pond Reservation while preserving a high quality of water in Fresh Pond Reservoir and developing the Reservation’s natural ecosystem.

Circulation and Access Plan Development

During 2007, the Cambridge Water Department will be working to form the Fresh Pond Reservation Circulation and Access Plan.  We will continue with series of public meetings asking for input from Fresh Pond Reservation visitors and members of the surrounding neighborhoods on the current conditions of the Reservation, and how they would like to see circulation and access change or be improved. 

What has happened so far:

We have created a series of maps illustrating the current conditions of Fresh Pond Reservation, its pathways and access points, which can be found here. Now we are looking for your comments!  We are asking the public to draw out the access points and paths they travel while within the Reservation, to illustrate changes to access they would like to see, and discuss what improvements they have enjoyed so far. 

In Fall 2006, the Cambridge Water Department, in conjunction with the Bioengineering Group, conducted at user survey at Fresh Pond Reservation.  The results of that survey can be found here.