It’s been a long three years since completion of the public transportation study that we blogged about in 2022. But, good things come to those who wait (and keep working toward the goal of better public transit access to the Blue Hills). In June 2025, the 716 bus that travels from Cobbs Corner in Canton to Mattapan Station in Boston will stop at Houghton’s Pond on Saturdays from June 21 to October 11. This is a pilot program to test the viability of this expanded route.
We are thrilled to welcome riders to the Blue Hills — perhaps for the first time.
Friends of the Blue Hills plans to be at Houghton’s Pond on most Saturdays to welcome new and returning visitors to the park. Look for the FBH tent and be sure to stop by and say hello. In addition to a hearty greeting from FBH staff, board members, and volunteers, we hope to offer all kinds of experiences to visitors, such as:
- Pop-up guided hikes when you want to take a break from the beach
- A borrowing station for beach toys, frisbees, balls, and other toys
- Water station
- Kite flying
- Scavenger hunts
When it’s hot where you are, we encourage you to head to Houghton’s Pond. By taking the bus, you won’t have to worry about traffic or parking. You can just grab your beach towel and go! If you get tired of the beach, you’ll have 125 miles of trails to explore and 7,000 acres of wildlife habitat to enjoy.
For more details on this pilot program, see the MBTA press release.
To improve park access for people in nearby Boston, FBH has been working in partnership with organizations including the Urban Outdoors Association, Mattapan Food & Fitness Coalition, Brookwood Community Farm, and the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum. Together, this coalition continued pushing for this pilot program and are thrilled it is being launched this summer.
Photo: “Swimming and playing on a summers day,” by Toby Lynne Schwartz of Randolph
