Highland Park is a historic hilltop green space in Roxbury crowned by the Fort Hill Tower, a striking Gothic Revival stone standpipe. Designed by architect Nathaniel J. Bradlee and completed in 1869 as the Cochituate Standpipe, the tower once helped supply water drawn from Lake Cochituate in Natick to local residents. It stands on Fort Hill, named for a Revolutionary War-era earthwork fortification, Roxbury High Fort, that occupied the high ground.
The elevated site offers commanding views over Roxbury and toward downtown Boston, and the surrounding landscaping reflects design influence associated with Frederick Law Olmsted. Today the tower is a recognized local landmark and a focus of preservation efforts, anchoring the surrounding Fort Hill historic district of Victorian-era homes. The small park is a quiet neighborhood spot rich in layered history, from colonial defense to 19th-century waterworks engineering.
Good to know
- Free public park; the Fort Hill Tower (1869 Cochituate Standpipe) is a designated local landmark
- Interior tower access is limited and typically only during special preservation events
- Hilltop site offers wide views over Roxbury and toward downtown Boston
- Sits within the historic Fort Hill district of Victorian-era homes
Getting there
- Address: Beech Glen Street at Fort Avenue, Roxbury, Boston, MA 02119
- Neighborhood: Roxbury
- Nearest T: Roxbury Crossing (MBTA Orange Line) is the nearest rapid-transit station, roughly a half-mile to a mile away; several MBTA bus routes also serve Roxbury. Check mbta.com for the best routing.