Facilities

Overview

Longwood Mall is a linear park with historic beech trees, many of which were planted by David Sears. The mall is considered the oldest grove of European Beech trees in the U.S. The rectangular park has no site furniture, and is located on relatively flat land. Visitor activities are restricted.

Park History

Longwood Mall is one of the four parcels of open space parks that were the brainchild of David Sears. By 1850's, he had planted fourteen thousand trees in the Longwood area. He later reported that ten thousand had survived. When the Town took possession of the park, it cut down other trees to give more room to the beech trees. In 1925, more beeches were set. In 1983, the Friends of the Longwood Mall established a fund for long-term maintenance for the trees. This group was presented with a Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award in 1984 for their work in saving this unique resource. The park is listed on the National Register as part of Longwood Historic District.

Deed / Title / Restrictions

The Town acquired the property from Francis Shaw in 1902 with the condition that it "shall be laid out...as public parks...and shall never be used for the purpose of a playground, as distinguished from a public park." It is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places and is within the Longwood Historic District.

Additional Information:

• Category: Historic Parks
• Size: 2.55 acres
• Protection: Article 97, NR, SR
• Manager: Brookline DPW, Parks and Open Space Division
• Location: Kent and Beech Streets
• Precinct: 1
• Inventory Date: 11/01/04, revised 2/1/05
• Vicinity: Surrounded by single-family houses and Wheelock College's Brookline campus, near Beacon St.