Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway facts for kids
The parkway in West Roxbury
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| Maintained by | Department of Conservation and Recreation |
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| Length | 4.3 mi (6.9 km) |
| Location | Boston, Massachusetts |
| South end | Boston-Providence Highway in West Roxbury |
| Major junctions |
 Route 109 in West Roxbury |
| North end | Centre Street in West Roxbury |
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Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway, Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Boston and Brookline, Massachusetts |
| Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Charles Eliot, Olmsted Brothers |
| MPS | Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001432 |
| Added to NRHP | January 5, 2005 |
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway, often called the VFW Parkway, is a special road in Boston, Massachusetts. It starts in Dedham at Washington Street. From there, it goes north and then east. The parkway ends at Centre Street, close to the Arnold Arboretum.
Most of this road is in the West Roxbury neighborhood. A small part of it also goes through Chestnut Hill. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) takes care of most of the parkway. This road was built between 1930 and 1942. It was made to connect different parks in the area. In 2005, the DCR part of the road was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
Exploring the VFW Parkway
The VFW Parkway begins in Dedham. It starts where Washington Street meets the Boston-Providence Highway. The road then quickly enters Boston. It soon reaches a big intersection near the Charles River. Here, it meets Bridge Street and Spring Street.
The parkway continues to go north. It runs next to parkland and the Charles River. It crosses over the MBTA Commuter Rail tracks. Then, it turns more towards the east near Baker Street. The rest of the road mainly goes east. It meets the West Roxbury Parkway at a traffic circle in Chestnut Hill. This circle is called the Frank R. Kelly Memorial Rotary.
After that, the parkway passes the Allandale Woods. Finally, it reaches its end at Centre Street. This spot is just a short distance west of the famous Arnold Arboretum.
History of the Parkway
The VFW Parkway was built in three main steps. The first part was made between 1931 and 1938. This section connected Spring Street to the West Roxbury Parkway. In 1941, the road was made longer to reach Washington Street in the south. The last part, connecting to Centre Street in the east, was finished in 1942.
When it was first built, the parkway had two lanes. These lanes were separated by a grassy area in the middle. Many trees were planted along the road. Some of these original trees are still there today. They create a beautiful green cover over the road. A special drainage system was put in near Baker Street in 1939. The southbound lanes were rebuilt in 1941. The eastern part of the parkway was built on an old city street. Since it was built, the parkway has not changed much. Repairs have been done using materials that look similar to the original ones.
Main Road Connections
The VFW Parkway is entirely located in Boston, Suffolk County. Here are its main connections:
- Start: The parkway begins at the Boston-Providence Highway in West Roxbury. This road continues into Dedham.
- Route 109: At about 0.9 miles, the parkway meets Massachusetts Route 109 (Spring Street) in West Roxbury. This is the end point for Route 109.
- West Roxbury Parkway: Around 3.6 miles, the VFW Parkway connects with the West Roxbury Parkway. This is a traffic circle in Chestnut Hill. It leads to places like Roslindale, Newton, and Brookline.
- End: The parkway finishes at Centre Street in West Roxbury. This street connects to other parts of Boston, Brookline, and Roslindale.
