CHARLES  RIVER  PARKLANDS  UPDATE
September 2005
Archives—Table of Contents

RiverSing 2005

Thursday, September 22nd, the Charles River Conservancy and Revels celebrated the first day of fall with 1,500 people singing along the banks of the Charles River. The Weeks Memorial Footbridge once again acted as a stage for this musical show. As family and friends sang to each other from the Allston and Cambridge riverbanks, music rang through the air welcoming the Autumnal Equinox.

The musical performances included Tibetan ragdung, Swiss Alphorns, New Orleans style jazz, and samba drums. As the sun set the giant puppet sprang to life from the Weeks Bridge and from the banks two other puppets joined in with the dance. To view pictures of this wonderful event, click on pictures of RiverSing 2005.

Thank you to all who participated in making RiverSing a new tradition for the communities of greater Boston! And a special thanks to the many volunteers who handed out music and flashlights, and cleaned up after the event. We also appreciate the generous gift of 1,000 apples from Whole Foods Market.

Bridge Lighting

The Anderson Memorial Bridge is now the third bridge along the Charles River to be permanently illuminated. At last year’s RiverSing, the Conservancy celebrated the lighting of the Weeks Memorial Footbridge. This year, the beauty of the Anderson Bridge is highlighted by its own permanent illumination.

Click on the following links to read about the Anderson Bridge and its lighting design and concept by John Powell, or about the history of the Anderson Memorial Bridge.

Water Quality Brochure

The Conservancy, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, has produced a booklet discussing the water quality of the Charles River and what individuals can do to help with improvements. The brochure discusses the history of the Charles River, sources of river pollution, urban river ecology, as well as suggestions for individual action. This brochure, coupled with web based educational quizzes, will allow Conservancy Volunteers and students to learn more after their hands-on experience on the parklands. The text of this brochure will soon be available on the Conservancy website. To order printed copies, contact Kristen Parkinson at klp@thecharles.org or by calling the phone number in the column to the left.

Skatepark Update

Thanks to a recent $75,000 challenge grant, we have now raised over three quarters of a million dollars toward the design and construction of this world class skatepark. Our fundraising efforts continue, as we reach for the $2.1 million dollar goal for this campaign! If you want to learn more about upcoming fundraising concerts, purchasing a custom Charles River skatepark board, or read recent articles about the skatepark click on: Charles River Skatepark.

Swimming Advocacy

After the swimming advocacy event on July 17th, the Conservancy continues to spearhead the effort of bringing public swimming to the river. State Representative Alice Wolf has filed Bill #3317 to request a water quality commission to address this issue. A public hearing will be held regarding public swimming and river sediments in the Charles on October 17th in the State House. For more information, please e-mail rvt@thecharles.org.

On the evening of September 22nd, following the conclusion of RiverSing, Renata von Tscharner, president of the Charles River Conservancy, and Christoph von Arb, Swiss Consul, ceremoniously poured river water from Basel, Switzerland into the Charles River. The Swiss water was given to Renata by Dieter Scholer, president of the Basel-based organization, Friends of Massachusetts, at a Swiss celebration of public swimming. This symbolic trade of water was done in the hopes that some day there too will be a celebration of public swimming on the Charles.

To read a press release about the water exchange, click on: Ceremonial Joining Of Charles And Rhine Rivers Makes A Splash For Swimming.

Parkways Advocacy

Many of you recall the debate over "parkways" vs. "highways." Concerns over parkways such as Storrow Drive and Memorial Drive being handed over to Mass Highway resulted in a legislative effort to complete the "Historic Parkways Guidelines." The bill (H-4283) received unanimous approval by the Joint Committee on the Environment, but has not yet been released by Ways and Means. To read more and to learn how to take action, click on parkways advocacy.

Conservancy Volunteers

This summer the Conservancy Volunteer program brought close to 1,000 volunteers out to the Charles to participate in invasive species removal, erosion control, and trash pick up. This fall many educational and corporate groups will work along the river. The Conservancy Volunteer program is a wonderful way for friends and colleagues to work together and improve a natural resource. If you would like to schedule an event for your school, company, or organization, please contact our Conservancy Volunteer coordinator Evan Moss at elm@thecharles.org.

CRC Job Openings

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, www.thecharles.org, for more information about the open positions.

Membership Mailing

In June a mailing with the Conservancy's new brochure was 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 Charles River Conservancy online.

Picture of the Month

The Anderson Memorial Bridge, now permanently illuminated from below.

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.

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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