Volunteers Reclaim Eliot Turn

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact info:
Elissa Bolt
617-619-2855
Has art to accompany news, call if interested.

Boston, MA—December 27, 2007—Area students and businesses will restore the Charles River Parklands near the Eliot Bridge through a $20,000 Adobe Action Grant to the Charles River Conservancy.

Hundreds of volunteers are needed for a concentrated push through the spring in the parklands, pruning trees and saplings and removing debris to restore the stretch of shoreline after years of neglect. Made possible by the funds given through the Boston Foundation, these efforts will improve plant health. By spring, the area will only require light maintenance.

The Conservancy plans to work with numerous area schools, non-profits and companies on the continued restoration of this stretch in Allston.

Adobe Action Grants support strategic partnerships that help make these communities better, stronger, and more vibrant places to live, work and do business. Through supporting the CRC’s volunteer and stewardship programs, Adobe helps community members of all ages connect to the parklands through first-hand experiences in caring for and learning about the parklands.

“Sustainability; both environmental, social and economic, is at the heart of Arup's values, from the work we do to the facilities we occupy,” said Mark Walsh-Cooke of Arup. “Working with the Charles River Conservancy group provided us the opportunity to help restore a section of Charles River parklands. It also allowed the office to get to know each other outside of the work place and have fun in the process.”

Boston University School of Management Honors Program Co-Community Service Coordinator Alex Brook said, “We transformed the parkland by adding dozens of new plants to it. We hope the plants will adapt to their new environment and we will see them grow for years to come. As we worked and bonded with each other, as well as students from other universities, we watched countless crew teams glide past us on the Charles River and enjoyed one of the last warm days of the year.”

Local companies Arup Consulting, Mullen Advertising and schools such as Buckingham, Browne & Nichols, Boston College and Boston University have already volunteered on the Parklands. With the new funding from this grant, the Boston Foundation helps to allow the Conservancy to take many more groups out to share experiences like these. Groups who want more information about the Conservancy Volunteer Program can contact Evan Moss at edm@thecharles.org or 617-619-2853.

The Charles River Conservancy is a nonprofit citizens’ advocacy group founded in 2000 and dedicated to the renewal and stewardship of the Charles River Parklands from the Boston Harbor to the Watertown Dam. While advocacy for and education about the parklands are the top priorities, physical improvements and events form part of the Conservancy’s efforts. The Conservancy’s other programs include bringing some 2500 volunteers to the parklands every year, improving the pathways, working on the return of swimming, illuminating the bridges, building a skatepark and organizing RiverSing with Revels. For more information about the Charles River Conservancy, please visit <www.thecharles.org> or call 617-619-2850.