Newton City Hall and War Memorial Grounds - Newton, MA
Posted by: NorStar
N 42° 20.225 W 071° 12.469
19T E 318117 N 4689563
The grounds surrounding the Newton City Hall and War Memorial, originally designed by the Olmsted firm, is a triangular plot of land that has treed areas, grassy areas, and ponds.
Waymark Code: WMKQ43
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 05/14/2014
Views: 2
In Newton, off Commonwealth Avenue, is the Newton City Hall and War Memorial, which is in the midst of a green and park originally designed by the Olmsted firm.
The park is a triangular plot of land bounded by Commonwealth Avenue, Homer Street, and Walnut Street. The Newton City Hall and War Memorial, a brick building with two cupolas, is the dominant feature within the park. The park itself is a combination of features. The west and north sides are mostly grassy with trees and bushes dispersed within it. To the south is a subset of the grounds, Balsamo Park, with is a treed area with donated bricks along a pathway. To the west is a wooded area with bridges over a waterway. The west in particular has most feel of an Olmsted landscape.
Sprinkled around are many memorials. The city hall itself is a war memorial. There is a memorial for POW/MIA soldiers near the west entrance. There is a fountain that is a memorial to city employees off the east entrance. Others are dispersed elsewhere.
There were no sculptures noted on these grounds, but there are sculptures across the road surrounding the Newton Free Library.
The park was designed by the Olmsted firm. However, it was designed by Olmsted Brothers firm associate Henry Vincent Hubbard and dedicated in 1932, about the time the city hall was built.
There were no other recreational facilities visible.
Other Sources:
Saylor.org (Frederick-Law-Olmsted.pdf):
(
visit link)