They have proposed that the 2001 race, scheduled for Sunday, April 29, start and finish on East Street in front of the Estate. Also, associated events including race registration, set-up for the 4-mile "Take a Walk" fund-raiser, the "North Star Children's Ramble", an awards ceremony, an "artisan festival, and a post-race music concert would be held on the Estate grounds.

"We bring people in from all over the world for this event," said Martin Hanley, Director of the Ramble. "I'm proud of the Endicott Estate. It's a beautiful place, and it shows the town in a positive light." The race, which has been run in Dedham for 19 years, has traditionally begun on Eastern Avenue, in front of the V.F.W. Post.

Immediately after starting, runners have crossed over Providence Highway (known as Route 1), requiring Dedham Police to restrict traffic on the busy thoroughfare. With the recent growth of the race to more than 3,000 runners - including many of world-class caliber - and the advent of the "Take a Walk", Dedham Police Chief has said that the Ramble's impact on Providence Highway has become too big a problem, and that it would be preferable to change the course so that it would avoid Providence Highway altogether.

Hanley told the Endicott Estate Commission at its meeting Monday that if the 2001 Ramble were to begin on East St. in front of the Estate, runners would proceed down East St. to High St., where they would turn left and head toward Dedham Square, avoiding Providence Highway by going under the Harris Street bridge. Along with public safety concerns, Hanley told the Commission that the Estate can provide a more attractive, more efficient staging ground for the race.

"Eastern Avenue has a lot of problems," said Hanley. "The utility poles should be underground, and there could be more trees along the street. I'm embarrassed about the way it looks. But [as a Dedham resident] I'm proud of the Endicott Estate. When all the cameras nationally are pointing at Dedham, the Estate is a nice setting."

Hanley said that he and fellow organizers had agreed that the Estate could allow them to expand the scope of festivities associated with the Ramble; he said, for example, that all nonprofit organizations in town could set up a table at the Ramble, and that artisans and theater groups could be encouraged to participate, in keeping with the Ramble's literary theme