CHARLES  RIVER  PARKLANDS  UPDATE
March 2006
Archives—Table of Contents

Earth Day 2006!

On Saturday, April 29th the Charles River Conservancy and other groups will participate in the 7th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup!! Join thousands of others, by volunteering on your own or with a group. Conservancy Stewardship Manager, Evan Moss, will be overseeing the efforts in Cambridge. For more information, contact Marianna Hagbloom at 617-879-7735 or at massart@waterwatchonline.org.

Watercolor Workshop with Frank Costantino

Have you ever seen a painter working on the Charles and wished that it was you who could capture the beauty of the river on a blank pad? Here is your chance! Along the banks of the Charles River, and in the environs of the Weeks Bridge & the Weld Boathouse, a plein-air workshop will be held all day on Saturday June 3rd with an introductory session in the evening of May 31st. Click on the following link for more information and to sign up for the Watercolor Workshop (doc file) . Participation limited to 20 people.

Swimming in the Charles: One Step Closer

Efforts to return public swimming to the Charles River has moved one step closer to reality. The MWRA recently proposed to activate a now dormant pipe, which would divert raw sewage and storm water away from the river in heavy rains. This $20 million initiative could eliminate 99 percent of the combined sewer-water overflow. In July of 2005, the Conservancy, joined by representatives from MWRA, EPA, CRWA, MIT, as well as state officials, took a tour of the Charles River to view historic and potential swimming sites. With this initiative, these swim sites may actually be put to use in the near future and as the Boston Globe editorial put it, “Some day, a dip in the Charles will no longer be just a photo opportunity for environmentalists and politicians looking to score points with the public.” Click on the following link to read the full Boston Globe article.

Skatepark and North Point Park in the Press

The Conservancy was recently featured in the Beacon Hill Times discussing the skatepark and the expected state funding. Meetings about construction are taking place. The Charlestown Bridge and the Beacon Hill Times also featured articles regarding the North Point Park, which will open in a few months. These two public resources will completely transform the area downriver from the Museum of Science and will offer new ways for people to enjoy the Charles River Parklands.

To learn more about this world-class skatepark or to donate, visit our page about the Charles River Skatepark.

Conservancy Volunteers Prepare for Spring

In March, the volunteer program finished this winter’s tree pruning efforts and began the clearing of bike paths in Brighton, Cambridge, and Watertown. This month’s teams included Buckingham Browne and Nichols students, members of the Cambridge Bike and Pedestrian Committee, Mass Bike, Single Volunteers of Boston, and numerous repeat CRC volunteers. Thank you all for the great work on the pathways and trees!

The Conservancy Volunteer program is a wonderful way for friends and colleagues to work together and improve the parklands. If you would like to schedule an event for your school, company, or organization, please contact our Stewardship Manager, Evan Moss at elm@thecharles.org or the telephone number shown in the column to the left.

RiverSing 2006

RiverSing 2006 has been scheduled for Thursday, September 21st! We welcome your input for this year’s celebration to improve upon this wonderful collaboration with Revels. Send your suggestions to crc@thecharles.org and plan to sing with thousands in celebration of the Autumnal Equinox.

CRC on CCTV

The Conservancy has a regular television talk show which can be viewed on Channel 9 (Cambridge only). This month’s show, Marathon Man: Training along the River, will feature Renata von Tscharner’s interview of Raul Solano. This show will be aired on April 12th and 26th at 5:30PM and on April 13th and 27th at 11:30PM.

Job Openings at the Conservancy

Parklands Ambassadors Coordinator
The Charles River Conservancy seeks a volunteer manager of the Parkland Ambassadors program, a new initiative of the Charles River Conservancy to expand public knowledge and use of the Charles River Parklands. Please visit the employment section of our website for more information.

Membership Mailing

In a few weeks we will be mailing out our spring letter. If you know somebody who you think would enjoy receiving it, please send us their contact information at crc@thecharles.org.

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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