Fowl Meadow is a vital wetland that protects Greater Boston against flooding and supports diverse wildlife.
Stretching through Canton, Hyde Park, and Milton, Fowl Meadow combines with the Blue Hills to form one of the most important wildlife habitats in Greater Boston.
Why Fowl Meadow Matters
Fowl Meadow is part of the Fowl Meadow and Ponkapoag Bog Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), designated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1992 in recognition of the area’s ecological, hydrological, and recreational importance.
Fowl Meadow at a glance:
- One of the largest wetland and floodplain systems in the Neponset River Basin
- Includes an approximately eight-mile stretch of the Neponset River and tributaries
- Provides habitat for rare species and diverse wildlife
- Important for flood protection, water resources, conservation, and education
Learn more about the Fowl Meadow and Ponkapoag Bog ACEC designation.
History of Fowl Meadow
Fowl Meadow was nearly paved over in 1967, when the state proposed extending Interstate 95, an eight-lane highway, all the way into Boston instead of ending at Route 128 (as it does today).
The plan included rerouting a mile of the Neponset River, filling in and paving over extensive marshes, and locating a major interchange on top of Paul’s Bridge, a historic bridge located in Milton.
This large, undeveloped section of the Meadow was spared from the bulldozers by a coalition of organizations, including the Neponset Conservation Association, which rallied to stop the construction of the final leg of Interstate 95.
A citizen lawsuit ultimately stopped the proposal. The case hinged on the fact that the project would have transferred land from the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) to the Massachusetts Department of Public Works.
The lawsuit clarified that transferring designated conservation land for development requires authorization by the state legislature, even when the transfer is between two state agencies.
The Neponset Conservation Association, which later became the Neponset River Watershed Association, was one of several groups that worked to protect Fowl Meadow and Paul’s Bridge.
The successful effort to save this important landscape is a powerful example of the role citizen activists play in protecting and restoring the Neponset River Watershed.
People Before Highways by Dr. Karilyn Crockett explores how the threat of building Interstate 95 through the Fowl Meadow wetlands united suburban conservationists and urban activists to defeat the project.
An ancient map from 1794, inscribed with the names of the selectmen of Stoughton — Elijah Crane, Jabez Talbot and Nathan Crane — shows more than six bridges that cross the Neponset River in what is now Canton.
Today, we mostly cross the Neponset River along Neponset Street, yet this road is among the newer roads, historically speaking.
When we drive past the old Canton Airport, we see wetlands and what we now consider “open space.” To the early settlers, this land was well supplied for access to food and other valuable pastures.
The early bridges provided access to land in the Fowl Meadow, which formed Canton’s western boundary. The first mention of this land dates to 1646, and much of this area was granted to Dedham in grants of 1653.
Read “The Fowl Meadows: For Peat’s Sake,” by Canton historian George T. Comeau
Flood Control
In addition to providing wildlife with critical habitat areas, the wetlands of the Fowl Meadow serve as an effective flood control barrier along the Neponset River.
After heavy rains, the wetlands soak up excess water and then release it slowly over the course of several weeks.
This sponge effect reduces the peak river levels during floods, helps recharge underground aquifers, and prevents water from rushing downstream – potentially causing property damage in Hyde Park and Dorchester.
Exploring Fowl Meadow
If you wish to explore Fowl Meadow, you can walk down a wide 2 1/2-mile path called Burma Road.
The hike is in the open and can be buggy, so it’s recommended to wear a hat, sunblock, long pants, long sleeves, and bug repellent.
Park near Paul’s Bridge at the intersection of Neponset Valley Parkway and Brush Hill Road in Milton.
Fowl Meadow also contains several remnant “oxbows”—curved sections of a former river channel—that support a diverse community of wetland plants, aquatic life, and terrestrial wildlife.
