Belle Isle Marsh Reservation
{{Short description|Reservation in East Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Belle Isle Marsh Reservation
| photo = Belle Isle Marsh P1110365.jpg
| photo_caption = Egrets in the marsh
| photo_alt = Egrets in marsh
| map = Boston Metro#USA Massachusetts#USA
| map_size = 280
| map_caption = Location in Massachusetts
| relief = 1
| location = East Boston, Winthrop and Revere, Massachusetts, United States
| nearest_city =
| coordinates = {{coord|42|23|21|N|70|59|21|W|display=inline,title}}
| area_acre = 188
| elevation = {{convert|0|ft|m|abbr=on}}{{cite gnis|603475|Belle Isle Inlet Marshes}}
| established = 1985
| named_for =
| administrator = Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| visitation_ref =
| website = {{Official website}}
| embedded =
}}
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation in East Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, is an urban nature preserve and public recreation area containing mostly coastal wetlands.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/globelocal/2018/09/21/paths-park-and-pavilion-unveiled-winthrop/GDXh3nmpOyn0JuHau0BX7J/story.html|title=Paths, park, and pavilion unveiled in Winthrop - The Boston Globe|last=Laidler|first=John|date=September 21, 2018|work=The Boston Globe|access-date=2018-10-20}} The 350-acre (1.4 km2) Reservation includes the largest remaining salt marsh in the Boston area. The marsh also borders the towns of Revere and Winthrop.
It was once a Metropolitan District Commission reservation, but it is now run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. It is a reserve for a variety of flora and fauna. Salt marshes were once prevalent along the Massachusetts Bay shoreline. The marsh is home to a wide variety of saltmarsh plants, marine life, and birds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.massaudubon.org/our-conservation-work/wildlife-research-conservation/statewide-bird-monitoring/massachusetts-important-bird-areas-iba/iba-sites/belle-isle-marsh|title=Site Summary: Belle Isle Marsh|website=Mass Audubon|language=en|access-date=2018-10-20}} The reservation is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
History
Although it is now connected to the mainland, Belle Isle was formerly an actual island. It was granted in 1628 to William Brereton, who named it Susana Island in honor of his daughter.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/kingshandbookbo01copegoog|title=King's Handbook of Boston Harbor|last=Sweetser|first=Moses Foster|publisher=Moses King Corporation|year=1888|language=en}} It was later referred to as Hog Island or Hogg Island on maps,{{cite map |author = J. De Costa|title = A plan of the town and harbour of Boston and the country adjacent with the road from Boston to Concord|year=1775|url =https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3764b.ar090000|scale = 1:120,000|location = London|access-date = 2018-10-21}} before it was purchased by Joseph Russel near the end of the 18th century, who named it Belle Isle.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofeastbos00sumn|title=A history of East Boston; with biographical sketches of its early proprietors, and an appendix.|last=Sumner|first=William Hyslop|date=1858|publisher=J. E. Tilton and Company|location=Boston}} In 1800, it was purchased by John Breed, who lived on the island, which was then referred to as Breed's Island. Part of the island is now developed as Orient Heights; much of the remainder is Belle Isle Marsh.
Activities and amenities
Features of the reservation include landscaped hiking paths, benches, an observation tower, and handicap access. A portion of the Boston Harborwalk runs through the reservation.
Gallery
File:Belle Isle Marsh P1110376.jpg|Marsh with Boston skyline in the distance
File:Belle Isle Marsh P1110371.jpg|From the observation tower
File:Belle Isle Marsh P1110357.jpg|Adjacent homes in Revere
References
{{Portal|Massachusetts}}
{{reflist|refs=
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External links
{{commons category|Belle Isle Marsh}}
- [https://www.mass.gov/locations/belle-isle-marsh-reservation Belle Isle Marsh Reservation] Department of Conservation and Recreation
- [https://www.mass.gov/doc/belle-isle-marsh-reservation-map/download Belle Isle Marsh Reservation Map] Department of Conservation and Recreation
- [https://www.friendsofbelleislemarsh.com/ Friends of Belle Isle Marsh]
{{Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston}}
{{Parks in Boston}}
{{Protected Areas of Massachusetts}}
{{authority control}}
Category:State parks of Massachusetts