Who We Are

We are residents, merchants, business owners, employees, shoppers, visitors and anyone else who loves Newton Centre and wishes to preserve it's historic village character. Many of us grew up in the village. Others moved here to live and raise families. Some live elsewhere in Newton and others live far away but have enduring ties to the village from the past. The Friends of Newton Centre welcomes all who share our vision. Please join us.

Friends of Newton Centre started in 2006 as a spinoff of Group One of the Newton Centre Task Force. During the extensive research done by the NCTF and in particular Group One, if seemed to many that the information could be used immediately to improve the existing village and also that Newton Centre residents and merchants have a long history of citizen participation and advocacy. Friends of Newton Centre became a coalition of immediate abutting residents of the village commercial area (within 1/4 mile ) along with the many small businesses.

The group focuses on the immediate problems that fall into the categories of public health and public safety as well as beautification. In this endeavor we have worked with the Department of Public Health to improve the garbage collection around the village. We have also worked with the Department of Public Works to reduce the number of illegal newspaper boxes. We are currently working with the Department of Recreation to establish a garden in front of Coldstone Creamery and improving landscaping at numerous other locations.

We are concerned about the deteriorating condition of the Newton Centre MBTA station, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Serious repairs are needed immediately. We are working with our elected representatives to make sure these repairs are done as soon as possible.

Friends of Newton Centre works closely with another long-standing group: the Association of Residents of Newton Centre Village (ARNCV). With them we have been monitoring the parking changes as proposed by the city's Traffic Council and developments near the MBTA Station and we are working to improve the conditions around that location.

Another major focus concerns improving pedestrian safety in the village with pedestrian crossings in several dangerous locations, such the intersections of Langley and Beacon and Centre and Beacon and other crossing points.