| Belle Isle Marsh Reservation | |
|---|---|
 Egrets in the marsh | |
  Location in Massachusetts Show map of Greater Boston area Belle Isle Marsh Reservation (Massachusetts) Show map of Massachusetts Belle Isle Marsh Reservation (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | East Boston,Winthrop andRevere,Massachusetts, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°23′21″N70°59′21″W / 42.38917°N 70.98917°W /42.38917; -70.98917[1] |
| Area | 188 acres (76 ha)[2] |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m)[1] |
| Established | 1985 |
| Administrator | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Official website |
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation inEast Boston,Suffolk County, Massachusetts, is an urban nature preserve and public recreation area containing mostly coastal wetlands.[3] The 350-acre (1.4 km2) Reservation includes the largest remainingsalt marsh in the Boston area. The marsh also borders the towns ofRevere andWinthrop.
It was once aMetropolitan District Commission reservation, but it is now run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. It is a reserve for a variety offlora andfauna.Salt marshes were once prevalent along theMassachusetts Bayshoreline.[4] The marsh is home to a wide variety of saltmarsh plants, marine life, and birds.[5] Thereservation is managed by theDepartment of Conservation and Recreation.
Although it is now connected to the mainland, Belle Isle was formerly an actual island. It was granted in 1628 to William Brereton, who named it Susana Island in honor of his daughter.[6] It was later referred to as Hog Island or Hogg Island on maps,[7] before it was purchased by Joseph Russel near the end of the 18th century, who named it Belle Isle.[8] In 1800, it was purchased by John Breed, who lived on the island, which was then referred to as Breed's Island.[6] Part of the island is now developed asOrient Heights; much of the remainder is Belle Isle Marsh.
Features of the reservation include landscaped hiking paths, benches, an observation tower, and handicap access.[4] A portion of theBoston Harborwalk runs through the reservation.
