Outdoor Student Spaces
Bedford Basketball Half-Court
This FREE space is open to the MCC community, weather permitting, throughout the year.
MCC Fitness Trail
The MCC Bedford Campus Fitness Trail is a 1.25 mile long walking/hiking trail in the scenic woods of the Bedford Campus supported by an MCC Foundation Grant.
A separate .75 mile loop goes around the perimeter of a frog pond.
Enjoy activities such as:
- Birdwatching
- Hiking
- Jogging
- Meditating
- Photography
- Reading
- Relaxing
- Walking
Hours & Parking
The MCC Fitness Trail is open from dawn to dusk.
During weekdays, trail users are encouraged to park in Student Lot D, adjacent to Building 9 (Enrollment Center). Additional parking can be found in Lot G near the Facilities Building (Building 11).
During weekends, parking is available in Lot D, Lot M and the gravel parking lot adjacent to the start of the Fitness Trail.
Parking stickers are not required for vehicles parked in Lots D or G.
Vehicles require parking stickers in:
- 30-minute parking spaces
- Handicapped parking
- Lot E
- Lot M
Violators will be ticketed and/or towed at the owner’s expense.
The Bedford Campus Map has the locations of the parking lots.
Restrictions
The following activities ARE NOT PERMITTED along the MCC Fitness Trail, or in adjacent woods or meadows:
- Camping
- Hunting
- Paintball games
- Swimming
- Use of motorized vehicles
Dogs ARE permitted, provided that they are kept on a leash and owners clean up after them.
Safety Tips
Guidelines for your personal safety while using the trail:
- Walk with a partner and carry a trail map with you
- Use fitness stations outlined on the instructional signs
- Carry water and wear insect repellent and sunscreen
- Follow directional signs and posted regulations
- Explore during daylight hours only, and stay on marked paths
- Bring a cell phone and a whistle to use in case you get lost or need emergency help
- In case of an emergency, call 911
- Carry identification that includes name, phone number, medical information, and emergency contact information
- Be alert for natural hazards such as stinging insects, thorny vines, and poison ivy
- Do not leave valuable items visible in your parked vehicle
- Store valuables in the trunk or another secure location
- CLOSELY supervise young children
Trail Ethics
Please help us keep this space safe and beautiful!
While using the trails:
- Be respectful and quiet
- Carry out anything you carry in
- DO NOT SMOKE
- Pick up litter
- Stay on the marked trails
- Do not vandalize fitness stations, signs or trails
Feel free to remove any small debris from the trail that may make the path hard to move on. Walkers should yield to bikers or runners while bikers and runners should slow down and USE CAUTION when passing walkers.
Cultural History of the Trail
Rich in history, this remarkable site was once home to the Maryvale Seminary, which
opened in the fall of 1926, offering educational programs and training for the Catholic
priesthood.
One priest had a particular interest in the woods and a pond located on this property,
and took it upon himself to cultivate these areas.
This teacher of Greek and Latin dredged the pond, and landscaped the woods. Students
helped with the strenuous work of pulling weed clumps out of the pond to clear it.
Even after years of neglect, many of these original trails still exist.
Bay Circuit Trail
The MCC Fitness Trail is directly connected to an extensive trail system named the Bay Circuit Trail (BCT).
Proposed in 1929 as an “outer emerald necklace,” the BCT traverses more than 200 miles
through 50 cities and towns in Massachusetts, linking parks, open spaces and waterways
from Plum Island to Kingston Bay.
The MCC Fitness Trail is a small but critical section, providing an important trail
link between Bedford and Billerica.
You can find more information and a detailed map on the Bay Circuit Trail on their website.
Preserving The Trail
To help preserve the trail for years to come, A Fitness Trail Preservation Fund has been established by the MCC Foundation.
Map