Natick now & then via new photographic mapping tool

The Massachusetts Bureau of Geographic Information (MassGIS) has released a tool dubbed Massachusetts Before & After that lets you view from above how the landscape looked in the 1990s vs. in 2019.

Check out locations in Natick to view dramatic before-and-after scenarios based on aerial photography that is geographically referenced to the town (orthophotography).

I found it easiest to orient myself by typing Natick Common into the search bar. That part of town is easily recognized with its grass and gazebo, and I found it pretty easy to navigate from there. You can see the stark difference, for example, on the South Main Street stretch across from the Common where the condos now stand. The online tool features a slider that lets you roll over the before or after images to see what was there after or before.