CHARLES  RIVER  PARKLANDS  UPDATE

Archives—Table of Contents

• March 2008: Earth Day Clean-up on the Charles, April 26. Special Spring Mailing: “River Stories”. Support the Environmental Bond Bill. A New Future for Storrow Drive? Spring is Arriving – Celebrate with a Walk Along the Charles. Charles River Skatepark Update. “Organization of the Year Award” from Cambridge Community Television goes to CRC. Second Annual Charles River Master Swim, June 15.

• February 2008: Advocacy for Historic Parkways Continues. Help the CRC Support the Environmental Bond Bill. Upcoming Rehabilitation of Storrow Drive. History of the Charles River Esplanade. Special Spring Mailing: River Stories.

• January 2008: Proposal for a Car-free Storrow Drive on Sundays. CRC Advocates for Historic Parkways. Long-Overdue Funding Increase Proposed for DCR. Skateboarders' Contributions Earn Challenge Grant. Relive RiverSing 2007 on TV in February! Special Spring Mailing.

• December 2007: Donate to the CRC's Annual Fund Before Dec 31st! CRC President Honored as Boston Upstander! WilmerHale Law Firm Helps with Skatepark Project. Long-Awaited North Point Park Open. Stay Tuned: Upcoming CRC Television Shows. Still Time to Submit River Portraits for Publication.

• November 2007: Fall Edition of Parklands Newsletter Now Available. Conservancy Volunteers Plant and Prune Parkland Trees. CRC Hires Grindline to Build Skatepark. Stay Tuned: Upcoming CRC Television Shows. Seeking Stories about the Charles River for Publication.

• Fall 2007 (pdf format): Wonderful Surprises and Hard Won Victories. Skatepark Speeds Forward. Northeastern Students Make Critical Bridge Embankment Repairs. Volunteers Transforming Charles River Parklands. Summerbridge Connects Kids to Parklands. Conservancy Volunteers Honored. A Successful Earth Day 2007. RiverSing 2007: Magic Marks Beginning of Autumn in the Parklands. Post-RiverSing Reception Honors CRC's "Creative Force". Better Pathways Enhance Parklands Experience. River Street Bridge Casts a Permanent Glow. Fifty-Year Ban on Charles Swimming Evaporates with a Splash. River Swim Gains National Attention. Swimming in the Charles. CRC Takes Parklands Message Live on TV. CRC Celebrates the Lynch Foundation's $500K Challenge Grant. Charles River Skatepark - Beacon for Athletes.

• October 2007: Luncheon Celebrates Lynch Foundation’s $500,000 Challenge Grant to Skatepark. 4th Annual RiverSing and Bridge Illumination. Conservancy Volunteers Renovate Eliot Bridge Embankment. CRC TV Show Now Live on Boston Neighborhood News. Charles River Pathway Reconstruction Advisory. Help Save the Esplanade!

• Aug 2007: Charles River Swim Race held July 21. Skatepark receives $20K from Rowland Foundation; donor announces challenge grant. Join Us at Green Masterpieces Concert. RiverSing 2007 celebration on September 23, with permanent illumination of River Street Bridge. Bike Ride on Car-Free Storrow Drive on September 23.

• July 2007: Grant from the Boston Foundation. Charles River Swim Race. Skatepark Funding Update. CRC on TV. RiverSing 2007. Bike Ride on Car-Free Storrow Drive. “Skateboarding” Minister Richard Malmberg and Skatepark project in the press. DCR Urban Parks Budget.

• June 2007: Volunteer Recognition Event at Publick Theater. Skatepark Funding Challenge. New Charles River Basin parks. Charles River Swim Race. RiverSing 2007. CRC on TV. CRC in the Press.

• May 2007: Skatepark Event at Boston Public Library. Pathway Repaving and Traffic Calming on Nonantum Road. Public Funding for the Parklands. The Great Park Pursuit. Charles River Swim Race. CRC Job Opportunities: Stewardship/Press Assistant, Development Assistant.

• April 2007: Earthday Cleanup on April 21. Public funding for parkland – Send message today! Skatepark Presentation – Sunday, May 20. CRC in the News. Herter Park Science Festival. Charles River Swim Race. CRC Hiring Stewardship/Press Assistant.

• March 2007: Earthday Cleanup on April 21st. Attend the Urban Rivers Conference in Boston. Parklands Bring Economic Benefits to the Commonwealth. Disappointing Budget for Parks. CRC on CCTV.

• February 2007: Swimmable Charles. Conservancy Volunteers Making a Difference. Skatepark in the News. CRC on CCTV. CRC Hiring Stewardship/Press Assistant.

• January 2007: Conservancy given grant to hire Swim Coordinator, Skatepark fundraising tie, Conservancy Volunteers making a difference, CRC on CCTV.

• December 2006: Gifts that support the Parklands. Conservancy volunteers making a difference. New skatepark DVD. Nancy Schön on CCTV. Proposal for car-free Storrow Drive.

• November 2006: Funding to Resurface Pathways. Biking and Walking News. Conservancy Volunteers Making a Difference. New Face at CRC: Welcoming Sona Desai. Skatepark Film to appear on CCTV. Skatepark Update. Fall Newsletter Mailing. CRC Annual Appeal.

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  Fall 2006 (pdf format): President's Letter: Goals and Spirit. Busy Year for Charles River Skatepark. RiverSing! With Bells On, Fall Comes to the Parklands. Cruising Down the River for a Cause. Conservancy Volunteers Opening New Vistas. Support Builds for Skatepark. In the News, including Make Storrow part of the cycle. EF: Generous Host of the CRC. Play Ball for the Skatepark! Cancelled Swim Still Holds Hope.

• October 2006: Advocating for Sunday bike rides on Storrow Drive. New lights on the water at Western Avenue Bridge. Skatepark update. Conservancy volunteers making a difference. The CRC on CCTV: RiverSing Recapped. Membership mailing.

• September 2006: Hub on Wheels CityWide Ride and Festival: Come ride your bike on Storrow Drive! Third Annual RiverSing on September 21, 2006. Skatepark funding reaches $1.18 million. River Cruise Podcast available. CRC seeks Executive Assistant to the President.

• August 2006: Senate approves $150,000 for Charles River Skatepark construction, and $27 million increase for environmental spending. Charles River Skatepark has new website, and Skatepark Block Party to help fund construction. Charles River Swim Race. RiverSing 2006. Hub On Wheels City Wide Bike Ride and Festival. Conservancy Volunteers making a difference: 606 volunteers worked in the parklands in July and August.

• July 2006: New website for Charles River Skatepark will launch in early August. CRC will begin “Buy-A-Brick campaign” fundraising for Skatepark. Purchase of Charles River Skatepark sneaker sends $10 to skatepark funding. Charles River Swimming Club will host Charles River One Mile Swim on Sept 9: the first ever open water swim race on the Charles River. CRC Volunteer Recognition Event on June 29 gave Distinguished Service Awards to volunteers.

• June 2006: "Future Home of the Charles River Skatepark" sign unveiled. Massachusetts state legislature approves $150,000 towards the skatepark, bringing total raised to over 1.1 million. Watercolor workshop paintings from June 3rd. Colin Riley joins as new Skatepark Project Manager. Nancy Schön joins Board of Directors.

• May 2006: Urban Parks Cut Again! Last chance for Watercolor Workshop with Frank Costantino. Skatepark Signs are Up! Upcoming TV show. Swimming in the Charles River. Conservancy Volunteers Update. RiverSing 2006 Scheduled. New Staff at the Conservancy. Job Openings at the Conservancy: Parklands Ambassadors Coordinator.

• May 2006 mini-newsletter: Environmental Funding Call to Action. Bike the Charles on May 13th. Watercolor workshop with Frank Costantino.

• April 2006: Massachusetts DCR 2007 budget. Earth Day 2006. Skatepark featured on NECN. Watercolor workshop with Frank Costantino. Conservancy volunteers take on spring. RiverSing 2006. CRC on CCTV. Two job openings: Skatepark Project Manager, and Parklands Ambassadors Coordinator.

• March 2006: EarthDay 2006 coming soon on April 29. Watercolor Workshop with Frank Costantino. One step closer to swimming in the Charles. The Skatepark and North Point Park in the press. Conservancy volunteers prepare for spring. RiverSing 2006 scheduled for September 21. CRC on CCTV. Job opening for Parklands Ambassadors Coordinator.

• February 2006: Progress on swimming. Nonantum Road tragedy and hope for future. Storrow Drive tunnel project. Conservancy volunteers. Skatepark news and funding. Job openings for Development Director and Parklands Ambassadors Coordinator.

• January 2006: Skatepark funding reaches $850K. Environmental League's Green Budget 2007. RiverSing 2006. Job opportunities at CRC. Architecture Boston article by Renata von Tscharner. CCTV: Renata von Tscharner talks with guest Edwin Johnson of Summerbridge.

• December 2005: Holiday gift ideas. New brochure highlights ongoing efforts to build Charles River Skatepark. Skatepark fundraising reaches $825,000. 1800 Parkland volunteers in 2005. CRC seeking Development Coordinator/Director. Each month, CCTV will air two 30-minute shows about CRC projects.

• November 2005: Skatepark Update: CRC has raised over $800,000 for the Skatepark. Holiday gift ideas. Fall 2005 Newsletter sent out. Water Quality Online Quiz accompanies CRC's new Water Quality Brochure. Bill H-1359 calls for creating a commission to study reinstating public swimming in the Charles River. CRC seeking Development Coordinator/Director. CCTV will air two 30-minute shows about CRC projects in December.

• Fall 2005 (pdf format): Taking the Plunge (swimming in the Charles). Adding Magic: Lighting the Anderson Memorial Bridge. New booklet highlights water quality. Skatepark funding over $750K. RiverSing 2005. Volunteers "Give Back" to the Parklands.

• October 2005: Charles River Water Quality Brochure. Possible State funding for Charles River Skatepark. Hearing on commission to study public swimming in the Charles River. Parkways Bill H-4283 for parkways protection. Conservancy Volunteers active in the rainy weather. Sarah Tindall welcomed as new Parklands Project Coordinator at CRC. Job opportunity: Development Coordinator/Director position still open. CCTV to air 30 minute shows about CRC projects. Massachusetts Highway Department working on restoration plans for Longfellow (Salt and Pepper) Bridge.

• September 2005: RiverSing 2005. Lighting the Anderson Memorial Bridge across the Charles. Water quality brochure. Skatepark fundraising reaches $750K. Swimming advocacy: Bill filed in state legislature; water from Rhine poured into Charles. Parkways vs highways advocacy update. CRC seeks Development Coordinator/Director and Active Parklands Coordinator.

• August 2005: RiverSing 2005 and lighting the Larz Anderson Bridge. Skatepark fundraising reaches $750K. Swimming advocacy brings Charles River water to the Rhine. Summer saw 950 Conservancy volunteers on the Parklands. Job openings for Development Coordinator and Parklands Coordinator. Membership brochure available.

• July 2005: CRC seeks Development Director and Parklands Coordinator. CRC calls for return to public swimming in Charles River. Big Dig pedestrian bridges. Parkways bill recommended for passage. Service Learning volunteer news. Worship Skateboards releases custom deck to benefit skatepark. Skatepark featured on Chronicle.

• June 2005: CRC 5th Anniversary Luncheon A Smash Hit! Biggest Corporate Volunteer Event Ever. EF's "RiverWeek". Budget hearings. Charles River Skatepark. Conservancy's new brochure.

• May 2005: Budget Updates on Parklands Funding. Anniversary Luncheon Tickets Selling Fast. Punk Rockers Band Together to Support the Charles River Skatepark. Charles River Skatepark Project Makes Waves. CRC Welcomes John Page as New COO. Novartis Erosion Control Project.

• April 2005: Funding for Parklands, the Skatepark and Urban Parks. CRC 5th Anniversary Luncheon and Luncheon Honorees. 6th Annual Charles River Clean Up. CRC's new Web address.

• Spring 2005 (pdf format): Upcoming Fifth Anniversary Celebration -- Celebrating the Power of the Parklands, with David Gergen; Halfpipe to Heaven -- Thrills, Chills, and $100,000; Parklands Go Hollywood; Swimming Update -- Taking the Plunge; Skatepark Gathering Speed; Service Learning Initiative Gains Foundation Support; Skateboarders Rock Avalon at CRC Benefit; Legislative Update; DCR Update.

• March 2005: State budget environmental issues and Urban Parks funding. Parklands Ambassador training. Sixth Annual Charles River Clean Up. Skatepark plans in Boston Globe. Charles River Invitational Swim.

• February 2005: Resignations at DCR. CRC 5th Anniversary Luncheon - The Power of Parklands. Charles River Skatepark benefit concerts continue to entertain and raise funds.

• January 2005: CRC recruiting part-time Chief Operating Officer. Service Learning Program receives $20,000 grant. Parklands Leases and Public Access Increased. Tree pruning volunteer efforts with Trees New England.

• December 2004: 2004 highlights. Holiday shopping. Annual appeal and thank you to contributors. Massachusetts Historical Society Fellowships. Mass Environmental Trust License Plate.

• November 2004: Advocacy: CRC collaborates on legislation to protect parkways. Chris Swain's clean-water awareness swim. Skatepark fundraising continues. Service Learning Program is strong and growing. Volunteer efforts shift to winter tree pruning. CRC to celebrate 5th-year anniversary.

• October 2004: Report on October 21st Halfpipe to Heaven fundraising at Avalon for Skatepark. Weeks Bridge happenings. Massachusetts 2006 EOEA budget. DCR restructuring plan. Swain Swim for the Charles River. New CRC Development Director Phil Kilbridge.

• Fall 2004 (pdf format): Skatepark Funding Hits $500,000 Mark; RiverSing -- Equinox Celebration with the Revels; Parklands Thrive Thanks to Conservancy Volunteers; Skatepark Design Session at City Hall; Northeastern Civil Engineers Repair the Parklands; Halfpipe to Heaven -- Fundraising Event Sold Out!

• September 2004: Report on September 22nd RiverSing. Weeks Bridge happenings. Halfpipe to Heaven Skatepark fundraiser to take place October 21. Massachusetts budget veto override news for DCR and environmental issues.

• August 2004: RiverSing and Bridging the Charles with Voice and Light. Bridge illumination to become permanent. Party to support the Skatepark! State budget veto overrides. CRC welcomes Evan Moss as new Volunteer Coordinator. CRC moves to EF Education in Cambridge. Boston Mayor Menino pledges support for skatepark.

• June 2004: Urban park state budget and parkways news. Membership drive. Charles River Skatepark receives challenge grant! Volunteer recognition event a success. WaterFire celebration in Rhode Island in August. RiverSing in September. Boston Cares volunteer event.

• April 2004: Call to action: Dramatic state budget cuts again proposed for DCR. Skatepark initial design unveiled. Volunteer Recognition Event in May. Upcoming Haglund lecture.

• Spring 2004 (pdf format): Skatepark Excitement on the Rise. Crossing Dangerous Intersection All a Matter of Timing. President's Message. Parklands Enrich Learning Experience for Students Grade 2-12. Swimming in the Charles! What's Happening in the Parklands—from North Point Park and the Hatch Shell to Watertown Yacht Club and Nonantum Road in Newton. Cambridge Business Community Gathers in Support of Conservancy. GeesePeace. Parklands Veteran Allan Morris Honored.

• March 2004: New Charles River Skatepark film released. Parklands Ambassadors program still open. Volunteers needed for WBOS Festival for the Earth. GeesePeace volunteers still welcome.

• February 2004: Dudley White Pathway Report submitted to DCR. New Parklands Ambassadors program. Skatepark Fundraising Event at Rye Airfield a Success. GeesePeace news. New CRC board member, David Ellis.

• January 2004: Advocacy: Wormhoudt begins design of Charles River Skatepark. CRC works with Eye Candy Cinema to make documentary about Skatepark. Results of CRC graffiti survey. Picture of the month: von Tscharner with Matthew Amorello, Mass Turnpike Authority Chairman.

• December 2003: Advocacy: Skatepark designer Wormhoudt leads interactive skatepark design meeting at Boston Public Library. CRC expands service learning opportunities for hands-on classroom experience in the Parklands. Graffiti survey indicates 25% want murals to replace graffiti on bridges. Picture of the month: Wormhoudt and von Tscharner meet with young skateboarders.

• November 2003: Advocacy: Graffiti vs art (take our survey). CRC in the news: Along the lost half-mile; "Let Charles be better than Seine." Wormhoudt selected as skatepark designer. Picture of the month: Zakim Bridge ramps and site for new skatepark.

• October 2003: Advocacy: October survey of Dr. Paul Dudley White pathway. CRC receives grant from Boston Foundation for Service Learning project with SummerBridge. Nov 6 Lecture by Haglund and von Tscharner. First CRC Graffiti removal a success. Picture of the month: Skatepark logo.

• Fall 2003—Annual Report: Volunteer Issue! It's All About the People. What's Happening in the Parklands. Students Learn to Value the Parklands. Conservancy Volunteers: Behind the Scenes. Runners Give Back to the Parklands. Future of Post-MDC Parklands Still Hazy. New Basin Skatepark Gains Momentum. Boston Business Leaders Recognized for Skatepark Efforts.

• September 2003: Advocacy: New director of DCR (formerly MDC). Volunteer news: New CRC dump truck, 1000th volunteer on Sept 20th, volunteers and videographers needed for next Dudley Pathways survey. Chainlink fence down for West Herter Park, Fiscal 2002-03 Wrap-up, Skatepark meeting postponed, Boom Boom Huck Jam on the Charles, Outstanding skatepark volunteer, lecture on Inventing the Charles River.

• August 2003: Advocacy: Graffiti news, CRC-Summerbridge Service Learning Project, 2nd Skatepark Design Meeting held at BPL, Inventing the Charles River talk by Karl Haglund audio/video recording available.

• July 2003: Advocacy: Parkway vetoes, second Skatepark design meeting to be held at Boston Public Library. Another award for Inventing the Charles River. Picture of the Month: skaters, bicyclists, pedestrians and baby strollers in harm's way along Paul Dudley White pathway.

• June 2003: Advocacy: Mass. Legislature's Fiscal 2004 budget. Program Spotlight: Skatepark design meeting at Boston Public Library, Awards for Inventing the Charles River. Picture of the Month: participants design their own version of Boston's future skatepark.

• May 2003: Advocacy: Governor Romney's Reorganization plan, Skatepark news. Program Spotlight: Pathway user survey, Bridges Alight, Award for the CRC. This Month's Feature: Boston's community gardens, including 2 on the Charles. Picture of the Month: a panoramic view of North Point and Nashua Meadows.

• April 2003: Advocacy: Governor Romney Reorganizes MDC. Program Spotlight: Celebrate Spring with Bridges Alight. This Month's Feature: History of Earth Day. Picture of the Month: Illumination of Weeks Footbridge.

• September 2002 (pdf format): Parklands - A Place of Refuge and Hope (Interview with Karl Haglund, author of Inventing the Charles River), Parklands Roundtable Calls For Action, A Bountiful Yield, A Morning on the River, Sit a Spell, Slip-Sliding A-W-A-Y (shoreline erosion), Volunteer and Make a Difference, What's Happening, and Who's Minding the Store? See this issue in html format.

• April 2002: Aspen Technology Welcomes CRC; Conservancy Goes on Patrol (along Charles River with State Police); Kickflips on the Charles; Bridge Lighting Event Illuminates Need for Parkland Renewal; Esplanade Pedestrian Bridges -- Better Access for Everyone; Conservancy-Sponsored Book Traces Parklands' History.

• Spring 2002 (pdf format): Solstice Bridge Lighting; New Life for a Dumping Ground; Esplanade Pedestrian Bridges Improved; Aspen Technologies Welcomes CRC; Conservancy Goes on Patrol; Earth Day 2002; Kickflips on the Charles; New Book Traces Parklands History.

• January 2002: Solstice Bridge Lighting a Success; Help Pass the Environmental Bond Bill; Parklands Cleanup Saturday April 20th; MIT Press to publish Inventing the Charles River.

• October 2001: Booth at Head of the Charles Regatta; Greenough Blvd meeting to be held Oct 24; landscape architects present MDC plan for Magazine Beach restoration; independent consultants present 5 alternative sites for BU's proposed sailing pavilion.

• September 2001: Plans for new skatepark under I-93 in Charlestown; Magazine Beach meeting to be held Sept 25; Charles River Watershed Assoc. to host meeting Oct 9 on BU's proposed sailing pavilion; trial closing of Greenough Boulevard postponed for further study.

• February 2001: Hell's Half Acre -- A Brief History; Envisioning a Renewed Hell's Half Acre Reservation

Charles River Parklands is published by The Charles River Conservancy, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of the Charles River parklands.

Email: crc@thecharles.org

© 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 The Charles River Conservancy