Elizabeth Massa, president of the Western Mass Hilltown Hikers, at the summit of Tekoa Park. The Hilltown Hikers will lead a group hike on Aug. 15.
Reminder Publishing file photo
WESTFIELD — The Western Mass Hilltown Hikers will lead a group hike Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. at the reborn Tekoa Park in Westfield on the Westfield/Russell town line, just before the I-90 bridge.
A parking area is located directly across from the trailhead, which goes up into the woods on the western side of Route 20.
The trail is moderate due to an elevation gain and a short climb up to the ridge and along the summit, with large rocks and steep, single-path sections. The first half of the trail is flat on the two-mile round trip.
Tekoa Park lies on 27 acres along Route 20 in Westfield, seven-eighths of which is in Russell. Until recently, the park sat idle, largely unknown and unused by the public due to its isolation in the woods off Route 20, according to Elizabeth Massa, president of the Western Mass Hilltown Hikers.
“In 2022, the Hilltown Hikers reached out to Westfield Parks and Rec. about this park, met with the board and offered up stewardship to clean up this amazing park and its trails on Homer’s Lookout. Our deepest gratitude goes to the city for letting us bring it back to life. Join us and the Westfield Parks and Rec. Department to hike this unique parcel of land. We have re-blazed the ‘blue trail,’ a spoon loop to the summit and back, and we want to share it with all of you,” Massa said.
Tekoa Park has a long history in Westfield. It was public land before 1792, at which time the boundaries separating Westfield from the town of Russell were established by the state Legislature. The land was then privately owned by the Sackett family and used as a quarry.
“When Mr. Sackett passed away, it was handed down to his son Daniel, who sold it to his kinsman Mr. Roland for $200. Four years later, Mr. Roland sold it to his son Ashman Roland in 1855. The city of Westfield acquired the site in 1870 for $1,000 or $ 30 per acre, six times the going rate of land, which was selling for only $5 per acre at that time,” Massa said, and the deed included permission for any inhabitants of Westfield to quarry stone from the area free of expense for private use, subject to restrictions by the town fathers.
In 1904, the area was designated a town park known as Homer Park, due to the efforts of Sheriff W.W. Homer. In 1919, the area was named Tekoa Park, and trees were cut in the 1920s during a lumbering operation. From 1930-1931, the WPA created a picnic area and pavilion, and planted mountain laurel throughout the area overlooking a pond. The new park was rededicated in 1932.
As the years went on, Massa said the park became neglected. In 1957, the Massachusetts Turnpike Bridge was constructed through the park. Former Westfield Mayor Alice Burke had the park closed as an economic measure. In 1969, a historical, biological and geological study was completed in the area with government funding under the auspices of Project Epic. In 1970, the director of parks and recreation at the time tried to renew interest in the site and bring it back as a picnic area. In 1976, the government funded a program called CETA that cleaned the area and cleared overgrown trees as a courtesy to the city, the park’s last reboot until 2022.
Anyone wishing to join the hike must register their vehicle at westernmasshilltownhikers.com. Maps and bottled water will be provided, and well-behaved dogs are welcome. Be prepared for rocks, mud and roots, and bring trekking poles and a snack. The event is volunteer-led, with a suggested donation of $15.
Email westernmasshilltownhikers@aol.com or call or text 413-302-0312 with questions. The Western Mass Hilltown Hikers have been offering group hikes and tours since 2010.
