A bill now in the Legislature would rename another one of southern Boston’s “highways” as a parkway. The Joint Committee on Transportation has scheduled a hearing for June 24 on a bill by state Rep. Russell Holmes to change the official name of American Legion Highway to American Legion Parkway.
If passed and signed into law, American Legion Highway would join the former Truman Highway in becoming officially renamed a parkway, leaving Cummins Highway as the only non-highway “highway” in the area.
Residents along American Legion Highway have long pushed for the name change, arguing the road should really be treated more like a parkway – because it’s already that in all but name: It’s not really a highway – with its 30 mph speed limit, it’s one of nine Boston thoroughfares protected by a “greenbelt” zoning overlay due to its tree canopy and a brook that runs along part of it and people tend to view a “parkway” as something better deserving of further beautification and safety improvements that an anything-goes highway.
The road connects Blue Hill Avenue and Hyde Park Avenue through Mattapan, Roslindale, and Hyde Park.
