CHARLES  RIVER  PARKLANDS  UPDATE
July 2005
Archives—Table of Contents

CRC Positions Open

Development Coordinator/Director
and
"Active Parklands" Coordinator

If you know somebody with great writing skills, a creative mind, solid office experience, willingness to work hard, and a passion for the Charles River parklands, ask them to go to our website for more information about the open positions.

Get Into the Swim!

On July 17, 2005 the Conservancy sponsored a celebration and call to action to return public swimming to the Charles River. Speakers included newly appointed Secretary of the Environment Steve Pritchard, former Regional Director of the EPA John de Villars, MIT's co-director of Government and Community Relations Paul Parravano, State Representative Alice Wolf, Executive Director of the CRWA Bob Zimmerman, and Renata von Tscharner. The event coincided with the international celebration of public river swimming held on the same day in 10 other countries.

The event included a press conference, entertainment from a Swiss alp horn, and finished with a Boston Duck Tour highlighting past and possible future public swimming locations. The event's pinnacle moment occurred when Renata von Tscharner, John de Villars, Fred Laskey (MWRA), Bob Zimmerman, Bill Walsh Rogalski (EPA), and Paul Parravano jumped into the Charles River off of Spaulding Hospital's pier for an impromptu swim. Amidst cheers, these environmental leaders proved that once the access and sediment issues are resolved the time truly will come for the public to reclaim its right to swim in the river. [Read more about swimming in the Charles River.]

To read the Boston Globe's article about the event visit: click here.

Renata von Tscharner picture "leaping" into the Charles was featured in the Metro. click here.

On Saturday July 23rd, the Boston Globe carried an editorial entitled "A Dip in the Charles." To read the editorial, visit: click here.

Thank you to our donors:

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Boston Duck Tours
Swiss House for Research and Advanced Research

Advocacy

Another effort to bring important amenities to the Charles River is the advocacy for the pedestrian bridges in the New Basin which are part of the mitigation requirement of the Big Dig. On July 21st the Boston Globe carried an editorial "Three Promised Bridges," which quoted Renata von Tscharner stating, "It's time for the people on foot and bicycles to get their share of the Big Dig."

Good news on the legislative and budget front: The parkways bill was recommended for passing and the budget now includes the $100,000 for the completion of the Historic Parkways Guidelines, as well as $40,000 for a study of Nonantum Road to bring traffic calming and improved pathways. Thank you to all who helped.

Conservancy Volunteers

Service Learning on the Banks of the Charles
This summer our volunteer coordinator, Evan Moss, will be leading service learning educational projects for a number of volunteer groups. The Summerbridge program of Cambridge is working twice a week for six weeks on invasive species and restoration projects in Hell's Half Acre. Sixty kids from Writers Express worked July 21-22 in Herter Park and the corporate group S.R. Weiner and Associates will be also working in Herter Park when they come out for their second annual volunteer effort. These groups will enjoy working out on the river, improving the parklands, and learning about urban ecology.

If you would like to sign up for a volunteer event or are interested in service-learning, contact Evan Moss at elm@thecharles.org.

RiverSing 2005

Mark your calendars! Thursday, September 22nd we will celebrate once again the Autumnal Equinox in collaboration with the Revels. Just before sunset we will gather on the banks of the Charles, upriver from the Weeks Memorial Footbridge, to sing and celebrate the change of the season.

If you are interested in sponsorship information or in the Weld Boat House private dinner reception following the celebration, please contact Kristen Parkinson at klp@thecharles.org. Space is limited for the reception so be sure to purchase your tickets early!

Charles River Skatepark

Worship Skateboards, Inc. Releases Custom Skateboard Deck to Benefit the Charles River Skatepark Project . . . These skateboards are due out in stores in the upcoming weeks, but you can be the first to get one by visiting the Worship Skateboards website.

Charles River Skatepark Featured on Chronicle... On Thursday, July 14, Channel 5's Chronicle featured an episode about the Charles River which included a segment about the plans for the new skatepark down by the Zakim Bridge.

Recent skatepark press coverage includes:

• May 27, 2005: Boston Globe, KidsSports: "For boarders, it's greatest skate,"by Kevin Paul Dupont
• June 1st, 2005: The Boston Parents' Paper: "Investing in a Dream," by Gail Spector
• June 6th, 2005: Banker & Tradesman; Design Matters: "The Charles River Conservancy Ramps Up Skatepark Plan," by Jeffrey Stein

To view these articles please visit the CRC's Charles River Skatepark news page.

Membership Mailing

Recently a mailing with the Conservancy's new brochure has been sent out. If you have already sent in your contribution, accept our sincerest thanks. If the letter is still waiting to be answered, please send in your contribution today and allow us to continue our efforts to make the parklands more attractive and active.

If you did not receive a copy of the new brochure and would like one, please contact us at crc@thecharles.org.

You can also contribute to the Conservancy online.

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!

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