McLean Open Space Gets A Name: Wellington Hill

When the McLean Land Management Committee meets tonight, Aug. 11, members will learn the Historic District Commission agreed as a group the night before to recommend naming the town-owned open space across from the Belmont Hill Club on Concord Avenue as Wellington Hill Reservation.

Richard Pichette will represent the commission at the committee meeting and told other members at their meeting Tuesday, Aug. 10, that he expects a "lively" discussion.

He said the approximately 100-acre area, which has just been called "open space" for the five years since McLean transferred the land to Belmont in exchange for dramatic zoning changes, should have a name that reflects its history.

"This property is the last truly open space historically in Belmont and should have a name that tells people what it was," Pichette said in reference to the fact that the space was once owned by the Wellington family who used it for farming.

"To call it something else would not inform people of its origin," he said.

"The word 'reservation' is not as important in the naming," he said. "The critical part is Wellington Hill which wasn't even recognized on maps for a long time."

Since the town received the parcel of land from McLean, Pichette said, it has been used for citizens' enjoyment with bike paths and increased parking.

"We want a name that welcomes people to the space," he said.

"At the meeting tomorrow night, we will present a document that's a fair description of the issue," said Pichette.