The Brooks Estate
Medford, Massachusetts
Artist rendering – The Brooks Estate Plan
A Gift from the Past, a Legacy for the Future
An urban oasis with 50 acres of protected open space, the Brooks Estate in Medford, Massachusetts is a beloved environmental and historical treasure.
Nestled in a landscape of wooded paths along Grove Street in West Medford, The Brooks Estate offers sanctuary for visitors seeking escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Enjoy nature’s rich pageant year-round along The Brooks Pond habitat, where fish, migrating birds, and various forest creatures make their home.
Follow the walking path up to the majestic Shepherd Brooks Manor and Carriage House, each an architectural masterpiece and the focus of ongoing restoration for continued community benefit.
Explore
More than a collection of trails, the Brooks Estate provides a critical habitat for native and migrating birds and small mammals. Join your neighbors and stroll (or jog) on the trails, seek birds, fish in the Pond (catch and release), or simply relish the outdoors.
History
Did you know that the Brooks Estate is on the National Register of Historic Places? Learn more about the history of the Estate and how the Brooks family and generations of Medford residents have contributed to local and national history over almost four centuries.
Donate
Help support our vision of a fully-restored, self-sufficient Brooks Estate for both today and for future generations.
Latest News & Events
Our Events Calendar
All of our upcoming events - at the Brooks Estate and around the area!
Our Most Recent Milestones
The M-BELT Board of Directors has accomplished some important milestones recently and we are excited to share them with everyone! Onboarded a new President of M-BELT Achieved record attendance and funds raised at this year’s Annual Picnic in July Secured city funding for updates and repairs to the Shepherd Brooks manor With the help of […]
M-BELT is Seeking an Administrative Professional!
M-BELT is Seeking an Administrative Professional! The Medford-Brooks Estate Land Trust is seeking an Administrative professional to support its non-profit mission. This position will report directly to the President and also work closely with the Board of Directors as well as its Membership and Volunteers. This is a grant-funded, 1099 contractor position and all applicants […]
Join Us on August 29th at the Medford Farmer’s Market!
M-BELT is proud to be featured at the Medford Farmer’s Market Community Table this week, August 29, 2024. Come chat with our Board Members to learn more about YOUR Brooks Estate! We will have information on volunteering, becoming a member, and more! Stop by our table between 3pm-7pm at the Condon Shell, 2501 Mystic Valley […]
A Letter from Our New President
Members and stewards of the Brooks Estate: I am coming to you with immense excitement as I step into the role of President of the Medford-Brooks Estate Land Trust in 2024, following the decades of love and care Tom Lincoln gave to this estate as former President. Tom, alongside the M-BELT Board members and other […]
2024 Free Annual Picnic – NEW DATE!
New Date! Due to inclement weather, this event will happen on Saturday, July 20. Learn more and meet other history and nature enthusiasts at this summer’s picnic! Also, help us celebrate the retirement of President Tom Lincoln and welcome new President Carly Nesson. Read more about the picnic, including maps, parking instructions, and a full […]
Save the Date – Brooks Estate Annual Picnic!
Save the date! Join us on Saturday, July 13, 2024 for food, manor tours and raffles. More details to come soon!
M-BELT Annual Meeting
Notice is hereby given that the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Medford-Brooks Estate Land Trust, Inc. (M-BELT), a Massachusetts non-profit corporation, will be held on June 6, 2024, via Zoom, at 7:00pm local time, for the following purposes: 1) To elect a President of M-BELT, Inc., from the membership for a term commencing June 6, […]
Spring 2024 Bird Walk
Join us as we explore the grounds of the Brooks Estate, a hidden urban oasis for early spring migrants. The first week of May can be full of early avian “scouts” who seem to arrive before the larger groups of migrants. Meet at the green gate at 7:30am on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Co-sponsored by […]
2024 Spring Spruce Up!
Join us on May 4th between 10am-2pm for our annual Spring Spruce Up! Many hands make light work, and we would appreciate Members and Volunteers to come and help us get the Manor and grounds in tip-top shape for the busy summer months. A brief task list is below, but there will be more work […]
Spring Open House
Join us on Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 2p-4p for our spring Open House. Come for a look at the historic Shepherd Brooks Manor and an update on our progress on its restoration. Brief tours are given periodically; the last tour is at 3:40pm. Refreshments, of course! Please refer to the bottom of this page […]
M-BELT Seeks New President
We are sad to announce the retirement of our longtime steward, Tom Lincoln. We want to thank Tom for his leadership and many thousands of hours of hard work on the Brooks Estate over the past three decades. Tom was instrumental in shepherding the creation of the Brooks Estate from 1993-98, taking neglected land and […]
Donate today
Donate today and continue the legacy left to our community by the Brooks family. Your monetary support will help preserve, restore, and transform the Estate into a fully-functional community destination for the enjoyment of all.