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Officials from the University of Massachusetts, the City of Newton and the West Suburban YMCA gathered on July 17 to celebrate the grand opening of the Wells Avenue Path, a new ADA-accessible pedestrian link between the Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst and the Wells Avenue Business Park.

The 350-foot concrete path, equipped with lighting and handrails, connects UMass Amherst’s Greater Boston center for professional development with Newton’s largest business park—home to the Wells Ave YMCA and major employers like Karyopharm Therapeutics, CyberArk and Bright Horizons Corporate Headquarters. It now provides UMass students with direct access to internships, employment and the YMCA, where they enjoy memberships via a partnership between UMass and West Suburban YMCA.

The path also improves access to abutting DCR-managed trails and conservation land for students, faculty, staff and Oak Hill residents, while providing employees and customers of Wells Avenue businesses access to outdoor recreation, amenities, dining and programs on the Mount Ida Campus.

Representing UMass at the ribbon-cutting were UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes, UMass President Marty Meehan, Chair of the UMass Building Authority Mary Burns, UMass Amherst Provost Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, UMass Amherst Vice Chancellor for Administration & Finance Andy Mangels, UMass Building Authority Executive Director Barbara Kroncke, UMass Building Authority Deputy Director and General Counsel Dave Mullen, UMass Amherst Executive Director for Administration & Finance Operations Steve Reynolds, UMass Amherst Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities & Campus Services Shane Conklin, and UMass Amherst Assistant Chancellor for Greater Boston Strategic Initiatives Jeff Cournoyer.

Among the many local dignitaries at the celebration were Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, President and CEO of Village Bank Joe De Vito, President and Chief Executive Officer of the West Suburban YMCA Jack Fucci, and West Suburban YMCA Board of Directors Chair Aaron Goldman.