Representative Kevin Honan Speaks Out on Charles River Parklands Restoration and Improvement

Boston, MA...10/24/00... Kevin Honan, Allston-Brighton's representative in the state legislature, took the opportunity at a recent State House hearing to lend his support to legislation needed to rehabilitate the parklands of the Charles River Basin. The Basin's Herter Park, which lies within Honan's district, is of particular interest to him due to its active use by scores of his constituents. Honan spoke subsequent to a briefing on the Charles River Basin parklands sponsored by the Charles River Legislators' Caucus.

"I played at Artesani Playground in Herter Park as a kid," said Honan, "so I was particularly pleased to speak at the recent rededication of the facility. The State has done a wonderful job there, but we need to ensure work planned for the future at Herter Park goes forward quickly, so that all the kids in our community can benefit from better facilities. But there are also people, like myself, who like to stroll along the banks of the river. We need to ensure that young and old alike can do that in safety and with sufficient amenities so that drinking fountains and rest rooms are available where needed."

When asked where the funding will come from to implement an MDC master plan to rehabilitate the Basin Parklands, Honan responded: "Six state representatives or their aides and a state senator attended the Charles River Conservancy's briefing today, all of them active in the Charles River Legislators' Caucus. That's a joint House-Senate group we've developed that's dedicated to the improvement of the Charles River Basin."

"Boston, Cambridge, Watertown, and Newton stand to benefit from these comprehensive improvements, not just Allston-Brighton," said Honan. "Current planning calls for work all the way from the Esplanade up to the Watertown Dam and on both banks of the river. We need to show other legislators that this is a worthwhile project and that by funding it they'll be improving not just a recreational resource for local neighborhoods but a major attraction for the whole of greater Boston."

The briefing, which Honan had just attended, drew an overflow crowd of 120+ river activists and legislators to the State House, where Renata von Tscharner, an urban planner and head of the Charles River Conservancy, reviewed the history of the Charles River Basin parklands, while summarizing the roster of stakeholders along the river. In her slide presentation, von Tscharner particularly mentioned the restoration of Hell's Half Acre wetland area across from Herter Park on the Cambridge side. This first restoration project of the Conservancy also includes reducing Greenough Boulevard from 4 to 2 lanes and is one of many listed in the MDC's master plan.

The Charles River Conservancy is a not-for-profit organization which seeks to build public-private partnerships on behalf of Basin parklands renewal. The Conservancy works closely with the Metropolitan District Commission to promote implementation of the soon-to-be released "Master Plan" for the Basin.'

Von Tscharner, commenting on the need to fund the restoration of the Basin parklands said: "Herter Park is one of the few places along the river where people can bring their cars easily. For that reason its very popular, especially for families with small children. There's kayak rental at Herter Park now, but we need to go even further. Perhaps a place to eat that reflects the rich ethnic diversity of Allston-Brighton is a possibility."

Knowing that Representative Honan supports the Conservancy's work to renew the Basin Parklands brings an important advocate for the Allston-Brighton community into this effort and makes the possibility of substantial legislative support that much closer."

The Conservancy works to create a better understanding of the best uses of the Basin through education, public dialog and interpretive programs. Effective promotion of increased access, good planning, and efficient management practices is designed to enhance the architecture, landscape and amenities of the Basin. The Conservancy seeks funding for public-private partnership initiatives.

Guiding the work of the Conservancy is the legacy of Charles Eliot, whose vision of a comprehensive park system built on a grand scale has sustained and enriched us all with the creation of greenspace throughout greater Boston.

For more information, contact Representative Kevin Honan at (617) 722-2947 or the Golden Group (Peter Golden, Conservancy media relations manager) at (617) 734-4123 or contact the Charles River Conservancy directly.