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iSave the Date postcard for 5th Anniversary Celebration

Celebrating The Power Of The Parklands A Smash Hit!

Over 250 members and supporters of the Charles River Conservancy heard Conservancy president Renata von Tscharner and Harvard's David Gergen "Celebrate the Power of the Parklands" at the Conservancy's 5th anniversary luncheon.

Held at Boston University's State Room in downtown Boston on June 17, 2005, the event was highlighted by the presentation of special awards for service to the Charles River Parklands. Recipient of the first Helen Storrow Visionary Award was civic leader Paul Grogan, president of the Boston Foundation. Nancy Schöen, an artist and skatepark advocate, received the Charles Eliot Stewardship Award.

Former Governor Michael Dukakis attended the event, which was MC'd by former Boston newscaster Ted O'Brien. A sixteen-page program booklet featuring tributes from notables in government, civic and private life was given to all in attendance.

Supporters and staff of the Conservancy were heartened by the turnout, which included groups from many communities adjacent to the Parklands, including Newton, Watertown, Cambridge, the Back Bay and Beacon Hill.

5th Anniversary Quotes for CRC Luncheon

"It's [the skatepark] like the last two lines of a wonderful sonnet. You know that it's been a great poem and then you get to the last two lines and it just blows you away."

—Tom O'Neill III, Former Lieutenant Governor - Summer 2004

"I am delighted with the formation of the Charles River Conservancy, an invaluable injection of community enthusiasm and environmental dedication to a cause which is central to life in Boston, Cambridge and Environs."

—John Sears, Former MDC Commissioner - May 2000

"The work ahead for the Charles River Conservancy is considerable, and the breadth of the challenge is surpassed only by the drive and commitment of the Conservancy's staff and volunteers. I commend the work of the Conservancy and its efforts to redesign and maintain the Basin. Together, we will return this precious natural resource to the original beauty its founders envisioned."

—Senator John F. Kerry - 2000

"I often run, walk and cycle on the banks of the Charles, and so am grateful to have an opportunity to help with the stewardship of these marvelous parks in the structured environment that the Conservancy Volunteers provides."

—Carol-Ann Farkas, Conservancy Volunteer - April 2003

"I have been visiting the banks of the Charles River for more than sixty years. The renewal of the treasured area - the defining landscape in Metropolitan Boston - is a joy to see, and I am grateful to the CRC for leading the effort."

—Lois Levin, Conservancy Volunteer - April 2003

"Raking leaves at the Charles River was tough, but I feel good about it. I will be proud to wear the shirt that says I helped restore the Charles River."

—Cody, Service Learning Student - June 2003

"The experiences this organization has provided my students with will undoubtedly assist in the cultivation of taking pride in your community and most importantly in your work!"

—Tanya McCord, Teacher, Somerville Charter School - June 2003

"The peace and quiet of natural places, especially where land and water meet, are very important also for those who drive the high-tech sector."

—Tim Berners-Lee - March 2003

"You have over the past five years constantly reminded us of how precious our metropolitan park system is, and what it will take to restore it to its former glory. Thanks for all the Conservancy has done and will do in the future. We are all in your debt."

—Michael Dukakis, April 2005

"The Charles River Conservancy has great plans to renew the Charles River Parklands. Urban greenspace is, for me, an essential part of the environmental vision. Many of my constituents will never see the Rocky Mountains or the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. All of them will see the Charles River. The River and its parklands are a part of all our lives. We come together there every Fourth of July to hear concerts, see the fireworks, and celebrate our Independence. But this beautiful place is showing signs of neglect, and I support the efforts of the Charles River Conservancy to restore it."

—Michael Capuano, US Representative, 8th Congressional District of Massachusetts - 2002

"I can think of no other project that eliminates the marginality of youth more than this skatepark."

—Hubie Jones, November 2004

"Congratulations on the fabulous job you are doing. It is making a difference."

—Kyra Montagu, April 2005

"In five short years, Renata and the leadership of the Conservancy have put the Charles River back where it belongs: at the center of the City and at the heart of the region. Through advocacy, tenacity and creativity, the Conservancy has reclaimed the Charles as the "Central Park" of Boston, just as Charles Eliot intended. Now cleaner and more accessible, even swimmable, the Charles has become an integrator and a lynchpin for so much that is unique and wonderful about Boston. Who could have ever imagined a world-class skate park designed by kids under the Lenny Zakim Bridge and along the banks of what had been only recently a polluted and threatening river? Perhaps only Renata and the Charles River Conservancy -- to whom I offer an enormous cheer and thanks for active, constructive and successful stewardship of one of the City's most precious and magnificent resources."

—Ira A. Jackson, President and CEO, Arizona State University Foundation - April 2005

"'Where the City Meets the Water' is a special place in the ecological---and civic---life of any city. Bravo to the Charles River Conservancy for its dedication to making the Charles River a most democratic place in our region's geography not only by preserving the natural beauty of the "water" but also more importantly by expanding our vision as to how the River can engage the daily life of all the region's citizens."

—William Rawn, Architect - April 2005

"Congratulations to the Conservancy for protecting and expanding the beauty and accessibility of the River Parklands. I especially love the lighting of the Weeks Foot Bridge. As a student, I spent a year in Paris-now there's a city that knows how to light bridges!! I am grateful that the CRC can dream and make things happen here. Keep up the good work! And THANK YOU!"

—Elizabeth Coxe - May 2005

"Community building is not for the faint of heart. It requires the consolidation of ideas and resources. When your community comprises the diverse towns and cities that line the Charles River, the common interests are much harder to find, and still there is little agreement on what role government and the private sector should play together and separately. Congratulations to the Charles River Conservancy for entering upon such difficult work. Your success is not only surviving five years, but the growing number of enthusiasts who now respond to your imagination, hard work, and many ways of helping. The Cambridge Community Foundation is pleased to partner with CRC and through your emerging leadership sees an engaging future."

—Robert S. Hurlbut, Jr., Executive Director, Cambridge Community Foundation - May 2005

"The Charles River Conservancy has accomplished an astonishing record in a short time. It has made the restoration of the riverbanks a metropolitan priority. But mostly, through determined advocacy, it challenges the public to preserve this natural watershed."

—Francis Duehay, Chair of the Trustees, Cambridge Health Alliance - April 2005

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Celebrating The Power Of The Parklands A Smash Hit!

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5th Anniversary Quotes for CRC Luncheon