Prospect Hill is a hill in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States, and is the third-highest point within of downtown Boston. The hill is in Prospect Hill Park on the west side of Waltham, near Route 128. It is exceeded in height by Great Blue Hill and Chickatawbut Hill, both in the Blue Hills Reservation. It is not to be confused with the much lower, historically significant Prospect Hill near Union Square in Somerville. There are two different summits; Big Prospect, at, and Little Prospect at. Both summits provide some of the best views of the Boston basin. The hill and the surrounding area make up the 252-acre Prospect Hill Park, a municipal park with numerous hiking trails and picnic areas that is the oldest and largest public open space in Waltham.
History
Waltham acquired approximately 75 acres for the park from private landowners in 1893. This area comprised the two peaks and their immediate surroundings. Additional land was purchased over several decades and the park reached 219 acres in 1927. It was improved with trails, picnic areas, fences and other amenities and generally well maintained through the first half of the 20th century. Vegetation management included the clearing of dead trees and underbrush, as well as the planting of thousands of trees.
Ski slope
Additional land was added in 1948 for a ski slope. Slope construction was performed mostly by volunteers and included lights for night skiing. Natural snow cover was poor and there was little utilization due to insufficient snow for many years until snow making equipment was installed in 1968. A T-Bar was also added at that time. The ski area was popular for area residents learning to ski and was also convenient for those wanting to ski at night. The ski slopes were open from 1949 to 1987. The area reopened briefly in 1989–90 and has been closed since. The slope was operated by the city of Waltham until 1985. Thereafter, the facility was leased to private operators. Due to the topography of Big Prospect, a very unusual configuration existed, with the novice area above a much steeper expert slope.
Nearby development
The construction of Route 128 near the park has resulted in numerous office buildings being located near the park's boundaries.
Water tanks
In 1974, the city of Waltham built two water tanks near the summit of Big Prospect to hold eight million gallons of water. Their elevation guarantees good water pressure throughout the city.
