Every day, roughly 1,500 people traverse the Linear Park path, which spans the distance between the Alewife and Davis stops on the Red Line. The path was created in 1985, and has won four awards for its design, including the Governor’s Design Award. However, it has recently become controversial for its faulty irrigation system and worn out lighting, coinciding with a rise of complaints on inadequate space for bikes and pedestrians to share the path. On October 27th, Cambridge’s section of the path closed for renovations: the beginning of a detailed project estimated to cost $7.8 million and planned to last up to 14 months. Signage warning users of the closure and designating an alternative route was placed six days in advance. It’s a classic Cambridge move: let disrepair build up, then complete an expansive renovation with a hefty price tag.
The project’s primary goal is to widen the path by four feet, as well as add features including emergency call boxes, benches, bike racks, public art, and drinking fountains. Additionally, a raised crosswalk will be built at the crossing at Harvey Street to improve safety. The majority of the project’s critics are worried about the potential destruction to trees; the city promises to save all mature trees and to plant over a hundred new ones. Alternative routes have been put in place, requiring the construction of a protected bike lane on Shea Road and a reversal of direction for a section of Dudley Street. It’s undeniably an ambitious undertaking, aiming to provide not just an improved commute but a space for community and play.
In many ways, the Linear Park renovation is similar to the closure of the Kennedy-Longfellow School (K-LO): years of deferred maintenance, complaints from constituents, and safety problems culminating in a costly makeover. The key difference being that the K-LO is permanently closed, whereas the Linear Park path will eventually be open to the public. Moreover, these decisions are emblematic of a recurring issue in the city government’s planning strategy. Rather than solve problems as they occur, such as problematic lighting or a lack of drinking fountains, they wait until a heavy load of issues can be alleviated in one swoop, at the expense of those who rely on it. If only the city was focused on better irrigation and a wider path, one can safely assume the project wouldn’t be estimated to take over a year to complete. Perhaps the path could be renovated one section at a time, or some of the minor aspects such as benches and public art could be added on later.
The city promises to “make every effort to temporarily reopen the path once the base layer of pavement has been installed,” but this is no guarantee, and a temporary reopening could cause even more confusion. Ultimately, the proposed new Linear Park will make the city safer, more enjoyable, and more sustainable. As for the execution of this ambitious plan, we’ll have to wait and see.
This article also appears in our November 2025 print edition.
