CHARLES  RIVER  PARKLANDS  UPDATE
April 2004
Archives—Table of Contents

Advocacy

Call to Action
Help stop state budget cuts for our parklands! Once again dramatic cuts are being proposed. The House of Representatives has proposed a budget that will cut the Department of Conservation and Recreation's budget by 8%, bringing spending on parks down 37% since 2001! The reorganization of the old MDC was a promising beginning, but without appropriate funding, the new DCR will not be able to maintain what could be a world-class park system.

On May 10th, the Senate will announce their budget. Please contact your Senator and ask him or her to support a budget of at least $80 million which will allow the DCR to continue its parklands stewardship at current levels. To find out who your senator is and to get his or her contact information, click here.

Call your senator and let him or her know what you think... do it today and help save our parklands!

Program Spotlight

Charles River Skatepark Initial Design Unveiled!
On April 13th at the City Council Chamber of Boston City Hall, over 80 skateboarders, BMX bikers, inline skaters and community members came together for the unveiling of the Charles River Skatepark initial design. Skatepark designer Zach Wormhoudt presented the design and then took questions and comments from the crowd. The initial design was well received by the skating community and the agencies. Zach will consider the suggestions he heard at the public meeting and incorporate them into the final design.

More information about the initial design is now on our skatepark webpage.

Did you catch the front page Boston Globe article titled "Big Dig's Halfpipe to Heaven" on April 27th? If you would like a copy, e-mail nes@thecharles.org with your name and address.

Skatepark Fundraising Update
Several new pledges have come in, bringing the private Charles River Skatepark funds to over $200,000 of the $1.1 million goal. CambridgeSide Galleria has pledged $15,000. Become part of this world-class vision, donate now! Don't forget, all donations made by skateboarders, bmx bikers and inline skaters will be quadrupled by a generous donor.

Earth Day Clean up
If you were among the volunteers who helped clean up the river banks on Earth Day, thank you for making a visible difference.

WBOS Festival for the Earth
Britt Lundgren, the Conservancy's volunteer coordinator, also organized the 150 volunteers who signed up through WBOS to help with recycling on the Esplanade during the concert. All the volunteers really helped make WBOS Festival for the Earth an earth friendly event . . . Thanks!

Conservancy Volunteers

Enjoy the beautiful spring weather - spend a day helping out in the parklands! Upcoming Conservancy Volunteer events include brush cutting, invasive plant species removal and several erosion control projects. For a list of dates and ways to get involved, click here. The spring and summer Conservancy Volunteers schedule is filling up fast so now is the time to set up a service day for your company or community group by calling volunteer coordinator Britt Lundgren at the CRC office or email bml@thecharles.org.

Volunteer Recognition Event: (Also open for CRC members)
Please join the Charles River Conservancy board and staff, DCR officials, and State Representatives on May 26th for a dessert and coffee reception at EF Education to honor our dedicated volunteers and all the great work they have accomplished on the Parklands. Conservancy Volunteers are eligible for free Duck Tours before the dessert and coffee reception. For more information, visit the CRC Calendar. To RSVP for this event, e-mail to crc@thecharles.org.

Upcoming Lecture

Come to Newton on June 2nd to hear DCR Senior Planner Karl Haglund and Charles River Conservancy President Renata von Tscharner discuss the rich history and bright future of the Charles River Parklands. For more information, visit our calendar.

CRC Calendar

From guided tours, to concerts along the riverbanks, to taking a jog or bike ride; there are plenty of ways to enjoy the Charles River Parklands this spring. For a list of upcoming events, visit the CRC Calendar.

Picture of the Month

Charles River Conservancy President Renata von Tscharner had a chance to chat with Governor Romney and DCR Commissioner Kathy Abbott on Earth Day before they joined hundreds of volunteers to clean up the Charles River Parklands on the Esplanade.

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.

CRC Spring newsletter has been mailed!

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

We need your support

Your support enables us to continue working on your behalf to renew the Charles River Parklands. If you've already given recently, thank you, but please consider making an additional gift. Contributions can be made by mail 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 members-join@thecharles.org. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, send an email to members-leave@thecharles.org.