FRANKLIN PARK LETTERBOX:

WEST ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Planted:                May 16, 2004

Length:                Golf Course Loop; 3 miles    Playstead Loop ; 1 mile    Hagborne Hill Spur; 0.6 miles

                               Shattuck Hospital Area parking lot to Letterbox; 0.4 miles

                               Ellicott Arch to Forest Hills T-Station; ¾ mile      

Difficulty:            Moderate for biking. Paved with some hills.

Directions:

From I-93, take exit 15 to Columbia Road west for 2.2 miles to Blue Hill Ave. and continue straight across the intersection onto Circuit Drive . This takes you through Franklin Park where there are several parking options. If biking, I would suggest parking at the lot located along Circuit Drive , next to the "Giraffe Entrance" to the Franklin Park Zoo. For the shortest route to the Letterbox, drive down Circuit Drive and take a left just before the Shattuck Hospital entrance and park near the tennis courts.

This is Boston 's largest Park at 500 acres. Originally known as West Roxbury Park, it was renamed in honor of Benjamin Franklin. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York's Central Park and San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The park consists of an 18-hole golf course, an athletic stadium and the Franklin Park Zoo. For information visit;  FRANKLIN PARK ZOO

There are a total of three Bike It or Hike It Letterboxes located in this area. See also; Arnold Arboretum Letterbox and Southwest Corridor Greenway Letterbox . Check out this link for directions to Arnold Arboretum, Southwest Corridor Greenway or the Charles River Bikeway, all located along the Emerald Necklace Greenway . Starting from the Charles River , the Emerald Necklace is a series of interconnecting parks and parkways created by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1891 that pass from Boston through Brookline to Jamaica Plain. The Muddy River  Bikeway, Jamaicaway Bikeway and Arborway connect the Charles River Bikeway in the north to the Southwest Corridor Bikeway in the south as well as Arnold Arboretum and Franklin Park .

Starting from the Circuit Drive /Giraffe Entrance parking lot; you can access the Golf Course Loop Trail, Playstead Loop Trail and the Hagborne Hill Spur.

For the Golf Course Loop ; cross over Circuit Drive to the cement trail and head right (west). Immediately take a left to check out Schoolmaster Hill on a short loop. There is a nice overlook of the golf course, as well as an unusual stone wall structure.  You come back out alongside Circuit Drive and go left downhill. After about a ½ mile you come to Ellicott Arch. This is a stone arch that passes underneath Circuit Drive .

Note; You can take this trail to reach the Southwest Corridor Greenway and Arnold Arboretum. See below for directions.

Continuing past the arch, bear left at the junction to the Hospital and you'll come to the tennis courts. Parking is located along the road here as well. Take the trail to the left of the tennis courts until you come to an intersection at about the ¾ mile point. Right is a gravel road that takes you to the Shattuck Hospital Area parking near the tennis courts. You want to go left up the asphalt road to the top of Scarborough Hill. It's about a ¼ mile to the top, where you'll see a semi circle stone wall containing historical plaques describing the park's origins. Proceed to the far right plaque concerning Fredrick Law Olmstead Sr. Take 4 paces (1 pace=2 steps) to the right to another rock that looks as though it too should have a plaque. Then proceed around the stone wall down to the backside of this rock. Looking to your left at chest height should be several small rocks blocking access to the Franklin Park  Letterbox in a crevice of the wall. Please rehide carefully, as there is a well worn path along here. Proceed back down the trail to the intersection and go left. Next you'll come to Scarborough Pond. Take a left and you'll pass through a forest of Beach trees. You then cross over the pond via a stone bridge and continue straight. When you come to a black gate, bear left on the paved road that is closed to traffic. This is Circuit Drive . You'll get another nice view of the golf course on your left and there will be picnic tables to your right. You climb a small hill and come to the Golf Club House. You've now traveled about 2 ½ miles. When you reach Circuit Drive , take a left down the hill back to where you started. The "Zebra Entrance" to the zoo is right, up Circuit Drive .

For the Playstead Loop; head up the Giraffe Entrance road. You'll pass by the ball fields and zoo parking lot and come to the zoo's entrance. Two huge statutes guard the zoo's entrance. Directly across from the entrance is Playstead Road , which is closed to traffic. Proceed down this road and at a ½ mile, you'll be in front of "White" Schoolboy Stadium. Take a quick detour here by heading to your right up a path that brings you to the old Bear Exhibits that were built in 1912. The zoo no longer uses this part of the park. Next, travel around the stadium to the opposite side, where you pass by a black gate and head straight, not left towards the fields. You pass by some old foundations on your left and then a trail that comes in from Glen Road on your right. This brings you back to the parking lot on Circuit Drive after about a mile round trip.

The Hagborne Hill Spur Trail; runs in back of the parking lot. Take a right at the intersection and head up through what they call "The Wilderness". Just after you pass by aPicnic” sign, bear left on the trail. This will bring you to a picnic area and pull out that probably had a scenic view at one point. Note the old stone stairs. The trail then brings you back down hill to Circuit Drive after 0.6 miles. Cross over Circuit Drive to the trail and turn left to return to the parking lot or head right on the Golf Course Loop.

To access Southwest Corridor Greenway and Arnold Arboretum; From the Ellicott Arch, pass through the arch and proceed down to Forest Hills Street. Cross the street and turn left down the sidewalk. At the end of this road is a traffic circle. Take a right on the paved trail, keeping the elevated Arborway on your left. This will bring you to the start of the Southwest Corridor Greenway and front of the Forest Hills T-Station after about ¾ miles.

HH

CLICK HERE FOR FRANKLIN PARK MAP

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LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON

AUGUST 31, 2008

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