Brookline’s Hidden River Walking Tour

Did you know a river runs through Brookline Village? The Muddy River, a significant part of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace—a string of interconnected parks—winds from Boston Common to Franklin Park. In many places, it is hidden by stone walls, overgrowth, and city streets. A recent $93 million restoration project aimed at flood control has brought new visibility to this long-overlooked waterway. We’ll follow the river’s path from Brookline Village to the Charles River in Back Bay, visiting the Dutch House, Longwood, the Landmark Center, and the Fens, with its rose garden, war memorials, and victory gardens. Our walk ends at Charlesgate, where we’ll catch a final glimpse of the river as it slips beneath the city on its way to the Charles.