CHARLES  RIVER  PARKLANDS  UPDATE
October 2003
Archives—Table of Contents

Great News for the Parklands!

We are delighted about the appointment of Kathy Abbott as the new commissioner for the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Kathy has a strong track record in park stewardship and planning. As the former President and CEO of the Boston Harbor Island Alliance she is already familiar with parkland issues and how private non-profits can work with public agencies.

WGBH airs Charles River Skatepark story!

On October 24th, public television WGBH aired a story about the Charles River Skatepark. WGBH filmed a variety of locations throughout greater Boston including the future site for the skatepark and Copley Square, where skateboarders were interviewed about the new skatepark coming to the Boston area. The story also included an interview with the Charles River Conservancy president, Renata von Tscharner. To read about the story, or to view it online, please click on their summary of WGBH Charles River Skatepark.

Advocacy

As part of the CRC's effort to improve the safety of the Dr. Paul Dudley White pathway, we need your input. Whether you are a walker, jogger, inline skater, or bicyclist, please fill out our survey before the end of the month. It can be filled out in 3 minutes and you can find it by clicking on Pathway Survey.

CRC Fall newsletter has been mailed!

In case you have not received your copy of Parklands, the Conservancy's print newsletter, let us know and we will mail you one. Call the CRC or email crc@thecharles.org.

Conservancy Volunteers

Enjoy the crisp autumn air and fall foliage with us this month - spend a day helping out in the parklands! Upcoming events include brush and invasive plant species removal, and several erosion control projects. For a list of dates and ways to get involved, see our upcoming volunteer events. You can also set up a service day for your company or community group. Email Britt Lundgren to find out how.

Thank you Pathways Survey Volunteers!

Thank you very much to all the volunteers who joined the CRC and partner organizations to survey the Dr. Paul Dudley White Pathways. Volunteers monitored the intersections where the Dr. Paul Dudley White Pathway crosses River Street and North Beacon Street, counting pathway users and cars while documenting the conflicts between them. The data will be compiled into a report due for release this winter.

The CRC receives a Boston Foundation Grant for Service Learning

The Boston Foundation awarded the Charles River Conservancy $20,000 to engage students in Service Learning projects along the Charles River Parkands. The program was piloted in cooperation with Summerbridge Cambridge and is now ready for expansion. If you are an educator interested in incorporating the Charles River Parklands into your students' educational experience, contact Britt Lundgren (bml@thecharles.org). To learn more, read CRC Awarded $20,000 Grant For Service Learning By The Boston Foundation.

November 6th Charles River Lecture:
Co-sponsored by the CRC, the Trustees of Reservations, and the Concord Museum.

On November 6th, Karl Haglund, senior planner for the DCR, and Renata von Tscharner, CRC president, will give a lecture about the Charles River Parklands. Issues to be addressed will include: the Charles River and its place and importance in Boston's history; past and future visions for the Charles; the precarious balance between transportation planning and stewardship of the public realm; and advocacy for the renovation, maintenance and enrichment of the Charles River Basin. The lecture will be followed by a reception and book signing. For more information or to reserve tickets call (978) 369-9763.

Program Spotlights

First CRC Graffiti Removal Project a Success
Using boats provided by Community Rowing, the Conservancy Volunteers on October 11th kicked off the first in a series of graffiti removal projects. Helpers from Single Volunteers Boston removed graffiti from the underpass of North Beacon Steet Bridge. With CRC volunteer coordinator Britt Lundgren's guidance, volunteers removed dust and spider webs from the underpass using brooms, and then painted over the graffiti with paint matching the underpass.

Boom Boom Huck Jam
The Tony Hawk Boom Boom Huck Jam will be coming to town on October 25th and 26th. The Charles River Conservancy will be operating a Charles River Skatepark information table at both the Saturday and Sunday shows. Stop by and say "hi" if you are at the event.

Calendar

From participating in a Conservancy volunteer event, to exploring the "lost half mile", to attending a conference by Harvard's School of Public Health where Renata von Tscharner will speak about the parklands potential for active recreation . . . there are plenty of ways to celebrate the Charles River this fall. For a list of upcoming events, visit the CRC Calendar.

Picture of the Month

The Charles River Skatepark logo!

If you have a picture you'd like to submit for a future picture of the month, please contact us at crc@thecharles.org.

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

Annual Fund Drive

Your ongoing support enables us to continue working on your behalf to renew the Charles River Parklands. Please make a contribution today to the Conservancy's annual fund. If you've already given this year, thank you, but please consider making an additional gift. Contributions can be made by check, credit card or on line. Our mailing address is:

[See new contact information.]

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!

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.

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