CHARLES  RIVER  PARKLANDS  UPDATE
May 2003
Archives—Table of Contents

Advocacy

State House News:
The CRC supported the goals of the administration's reorganization proposal which promised to provide better park stewardship and increased transparency. The House budget proposal and the amendments that were approved leave many inconsistencies.

As the Senate debates the budget and amendments it might still be possible to achieve a better outcome.

With changes occurring almost daily, the CRC is working with the Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) and several other metro park advocates to maintain the key elements of better stewardship for the parks and parkways. For an update on the budget, visit the ELM website at www.environmentalleague.org/Issues/Budget/Budgets_home.html.

Skatepark News:
At 6 pm on Thursday June 5th at the Boston Public Library, skateboarders in the Greater Boston area will have the opportunity to help design Boston's new world-class skatepark. For more information on the project and this opportunity, click here.

Conservancy Volunteers

This spring, the Conservancy Volunteers have several opportunities for you to help renew the parklands. With Watertown Conservation Commission's recent approval of the MDC's Vegetation Management Plan, work can now begin in Watertown as well. (For more information on this management plan see the May 15th issue of the Watertown TAB.) Upcoming events include shoreline erosion projects, brush removal, and invasive species removal. For upcoming dates and ways for you to get involved, click here.

Program Spotlights

Pathway User Survey
Starting in June, teams of volunteers will begin counting the many bicyclists, rollerbladers, walkers, joggers and others who use the Dr. Paul Dudley White Pathway. We will also be documenting the many unsafe crossings at the bridges. The results of this survey will help guide future efforts to advocate for improvements to the Dr. Paul Dudley White Pathway. Take the mini-survey and help us identify trouble spots. Volunteer to help us count.

Bridges Alight
Thank you to all who came to Bridges Alight! Seeing the magic of the illuminated bridges confirmed the CRC's commitment to provide permanent lighting. For those of you who missed this wonderful evening, read a description of the event, along with pictures of the festivities.

Award for the CRC
At its 2003 annual dinner, the Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA) honored the Charles River Conservancy with its Excellence award.

Calendar

Now that the warm weather is finally here, there are plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy the parklands! From volunteering, to participating in the Cambridge River Festival, to Conservancy-sponsored excursions there are many exciting things to do! Visit the Charles River Conservancy's Calendar for more events and details.

This Month's Feature

Did you know that greater Boston has over 250 active community or school gardens, including two along the shores of the Charles in Allston/Brighton? To learn more about Boston's community gardens and how you too can get involved, visit www.bostonnatural.org/gardens.php.

Picture of the Month

As part of the Big Dig mitigation requirement, construction of new parklands is underway in the New Basin. For a unique view of North Point and Nashua Meadows, check out the picture of the month submitted by Roger Frymire. If you have a picture involving the Charles River, and would like to submit it as a candidate for a future Picture of the Month, email crc@thecharles.org.

To see previous pictures of the month, see the archives page.

CRC Membership

Thank you to all of you who have already sent in your membership dues! In case it has slipped your attention, please do it today. Your financial support is crucial to our work! You can join by check, credit card or online.

If you know someone who would enjoy this newsletter, please feel free to pass it along. Interested readers can subscribe to the e-newsletter by sending an email to majordomo@thecharles.org with the words "subscribe members" in the message body text.

If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, send an email to majordomo@thecharles.org with the words "unsubscribe members" in the message body text, or email crc@thecharles.org with your request.

The Charles River Conservancy takes as its mission the renewal and stewardship of the Charles River Parklands and their surroundings, particularly parks, parkways and bridges. The Conservancy engages in numerous Parklands restoration and improvement initiatives, including access and safety, education and outreach, and planning and maintenance programs, and relies heavily on individual contributions. To support the Charles River Conservancy, click here. Thank you!