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TheMuddy River is a series of brooks and ponds that runs through sections ofBoston'sEmerald Necklace, including along the south boundary ofBrookline, Massachusetts (a town that went by the name of Muddy River Hamlet before it was incorporated in 1705). The river is a protected public recreation area surrounded by parks and hiking trails, managed by theMassachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
The river flows fromJamaica Pond throughOlmsted Park's Wards Pond, Willow Pond, and Leverett Pond. It then flows through a conduit underRoute 9 and into a narrow park called theRiverway. It flows through culverts under Riverway, Brookline Avenue, and Avenue Louis Pasteur. The Muddy River continues from the Fens toward its connection with theCharles River via the Charlesgate area, running through a stone-paved channel surrounded by a narrow strip of parklands. In a series of stone bridges and tunnels, it passes underBoylston Street,Massachusetts Turnpike,Commonwealth Avenue,Storrow Drive, and a series of elevated connecting ramps (theBowker Overpass).
In its natural state, the outlet of the Muddy River into the tidal Charles was much wider. It formed the eastern Brookline border with Boston and Roxbury (depending on the year), from Brookline's incorporation in 1705 until Boston's annexation ofAllston–Brighton in 1873.[1]
The Muddy River is mentioned by John Winthrop in his diary as the site of an unidentified flying object in March 1638 or 1639, as described to him by witness James Everell.[2][non-primary source needed]
The present form of the river and surrounding parks was created by theEmerald Necklace project, between 1880 and 1900. Under the direction of designerFrederick Law Olmsted, the project reclaimed marshland, creating sculpted and planted riverbanks.
In 1996, the Muddy River flooded the MBTA'sKenmore station and the surrounding area.[3]
Beginning in 2014, theArmy Corps of Engineers worked with state and local government and the citizen-led Maintenance and Management Oversight Committee (MMOC) to mitigate flooding and restore natural habitat and historic parkland.[3][4]
Phase 1 was completed in 2016 withdaylighting of a section of river adjacent to theLandmark Center.[5][6] In a second phase from 2020 to 2023, dredging, eradication of invasive species, and replanting of native species took place from Leverett Pond to theBack Bay Fens.[6]
42°20′32″N71°06′30″W / 42.342114°N 71.108236°W /42.342114; -71.108236
