The Old Common & Burying Ground
Historic Preservation

Marlborough, Massachusetts
1998-1999

Established as a public green in the 17 th century when it was the site of the original meeting house and burial ground, Marlborough’s Old Common has evolved over the years. The meet-ing house has been replaced by a series of public schools, the latest and largest of these being the present day Walker Building. The sloping land has been has been reduced by the widening and addition of roads, DDA’s plan for the Common reverses recent conditions, characterized by a treeless asphalt drive and randomly placed residential-scaled plantings, by re-introducing some of the simplicity and graciousness of the landscape as it was in the late 19 th century. The Common today has a re-graded front lawn, shade trees, a promenade, mixed perennial bor-ders and a gazebo. The burial ground has been preserved, changed only by the addition of a stepping stone path and a suitable post and rail fence.