Arlington’s Great Meadows is a 183-acre parcel of land owned by Arlington located in east Lexington adjacent to the Minuteman Bikeway. It is the largest piece of undeveloped land in the Arlington/Lexington area, serving as public open space for the surrounding communities.
View the AGM brochure and Tour Guide, and more about AGM.
Photos by Harvey Cote, Ellen Finnie, David White.
Volunteers with the repaired and capped post in the foreground (Photo by Greg Shenstone – 11/8/24)
The Finger Marsh boardwalk near to the bikeway across from the Waldorf School was constructed twenty years ago and has been showing signs of age with its somewhat wavy appearance. This is because some of the support posts have rotted out. Fortunately, this is not an extensive problem and can be remedied with some restorative carpentry. One section was repaired a few weeks ago.
Then just last week another section was repaired. The first step was to fill the cavity in the rotting support post with epoxy to protect and restore it. Once that hardened a team of stewards jacked up the boardwalk platform and put in new support braces. This will make a safer walking experience and hopefully will last for a while. Although other repairs will likely be needed as the structure ages.
Thanks to Greg Shenstone, Bruce Neumann, and David Markun.
Invasive removal and native plant restoration work continues at AGM next to Brandon Road. High school students led by Holly Samuels (Lexington Conservation Steward and nearby resident) continue the Buckthorn/Honeysuckle/ Burning Bush removal marathon. This will provide a healthier, more diverse environment, improve the wildlife habitat and also opens up a great view of the wetland meadows. This work will continue up the trail to Fottler Avenue where the removed small trees will be laid on cardboard to suppress unwanted seed germination and provide some wildlife habitat. (FYI – Trees marked with red tape are the ones being saved.)
Students removing invasive saplings with weed wrenches
Full dumpster of the collected material with a meadow view
Sponsored by the Friends of Arlington’s Great Meadows (FoAGM)
Walk around Arlington’s Great Meadows. See areas that are rarely visited and learn enough to never be (really) lost there again.
Total distance is three+ miles of moderate walking on dirt paths and the bikeway.
We’ll walk in dry upland areas and cross lower wetland areas on boardwalks. David White of FoAGM will be the leader and will point out areas of interest along the way.
Please Wear: Appropriate outerwear and footwear. Also insect repellant for ticks and mosquitos.
Location: Meet at the public parking area at Lexington Meadows. From Maple Street, turn onto Emerson Gardens Road and follow it to the end where Bryant Road meets it. One can also park on Emerson Gardens Road. (See Map online or below.)
For more information contact David at info@FoAGM.org. The 20th is the rain date!
