A Summer Of Cycling In Roxbury

Another great email with events

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RSVP and inquiries to Derek Lumpkins 617-427-1006, [email protected]

A Summer of Cycling in Roxbury

Roxbury, MA – For the second year running, Discover Roxbury and the Franklin Park Coalition are teaming up to lead bike-friendly tours of Roxbury’s green spaces and rolling hills. In addition to burning calories on the rides, the two organizations will answer burning questions that exist about the community.

The rides are weather permitting and open to riders of all skill levels. Riders must provide their own bikes and helmets are required.

Wednesday, May 26, 5pm-7pm
Eliot Sq-Franklin Park
This is where it all began! Start in Eliot Square, the heart of colonial Roxbury, and ride through nearly 200 years of historic architecture to the top of Highland Park. From there it’s downhill into the 20th century past Malcolm X’s home, through Melnea Cass’ neighborhood, and into areas where Elma Lewis left a strong impression on residential Roxbury and in Franklin Park. Once inside the park, tour old ruins, enjoy the lush forest, and ride over Frederick Law Olmsted’s arched bridges. At the end of the ride, purchase a light meal at the Golf Clubhouse and watch the setting sun on the terrace.

Thursday, June 24, 5:30pm-7pm
Forest Hills Cemetery- Franklin Park
Ride to the southern reaches of Roxbury and tour historic green spaces: Forest Hills Cemetery and Franklin Park. The cemetery was originally founded as a public burial ground in 1848 by the Mayor of Roxbury and is the final resting place for prominent Roxburyites such as abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, surgeon Susan Dimock, entrepreneur Joseph “Wally” Walcott, and arts leader Elma Lewis. After touring the cemetery, ride through Franklin Park alongside the 200-acre forest and catch the view from Schoolmaster Hill where Ralph Waldo Emerson once lived. At the end of the ride, purchase a light meal at the Golf Clubhouse and watch the setting sun on the terrace.

Saturday, July 24, 10am-12pm
Roxbury’s Main Streets
Travel to the four corners of Roxbury: Egleston Square, Mission Hill, Dudley Square, and Grove Hall. Meet the directors at the Main Streets programs, hear how and why each is unique, and receive recommendations on places to eat and shop. Our tour will begin in front of Mission Church and travel down Tremont St and Malcolm X Blvd to Dudley Square. After a brief visit, we’ll continue uphill to Grove Hall. From there we’ll bike through Franklin Park and finish our ride in Egleston Square where we can direct riders back to the Southwest Corridor.

Saturday, August 7, 10am-12pm
Radical Roxbury
Feel free to wear tie dyed t-shirt. This tour will explore the more radical side of Roxbury’s history. We’ll begin at Roxbury Crossing with the relatively well-known protests against the construction of I-95 along the Southwest Corridor. From there our attention will focus on mid-20th century revolutionary leaders Martin Luther King, Jr and Malcolm X. After passing the former locations of the Black Panthers and SNCC, we’ll end with an overview of the 1967 and 1968 riots in Grove Hall and the police staging grounds in Franklin Park.

Wednesday, September 15, 5pm-7pm
Olmsted’s Roxbury
Frederick Law Olmsted, a nationally renowned landscape architect, is best known in Boston for his work on the Emerald Necklace. Parts of the Emerald Necklace form Roxbury’s borders to the west and the south. But, few people are aware that Olmsted and his company were also responsible for many smaller parks scattered around Roxbury. Complete the summer of cycling on a tour of parks that help make Roxbury such a beautiful place for biking. We’ll begin in Eliot Square and wind our way around the community to tour existing parklands as well as areas which were once park, but didn’t survive the growth of the city.

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