Opening January 20: Free to Be Gallery Show

Explore where skate and art culture intersect

The skatepark might be chilly in January, but the creative sparks burn fire-hot! The CRC and the Multicultural Arts Center present Free to Be: Skate, Paint, Imaginate, an exhibition celebrating the art, movement, and culture of the Lynch Family Skatepark community. Curated by local photographer Matt Ringer, Free to Be is a multimedia showcase of local artists, skaters, and community groups and how their work is inspired by or relates to Lynch Family Skatepark and the greater Boston Skate community. Meet the artists and join us for the Opening Reception on Thursday, January 29 from 6-8pm.

2026 is Your Year to Join Our CREW!

Plus: An exciting Earth Day Cleanup update

CREW Volunteers are park lovers through and through!

Are you passionate about the environment and interested in volunteering in the parks on your own schedule? The CRC is recruiting volunteers for our 2026 Charles River Environmental Watch (CREW) Stewards and Vegetation Monitoring Programs. 

CREW Stewards are responsible for monitoring a designated section of the park, where they remove litter, assess pathway conditions, and manage invasive plant species to help promote native biodiversity. CREW Vegetation Monitors participate in a community science project where they identify plant species to help track the progress on our restoration efforts in Hell’s Half Acre. After completing orientation and training, CREW members will carry out their responsibilities at least once a month, according to their own schedule. Learn more about the CREW Programs and how to apply.

There is no firm deadline for applications, so apply early for the best chance of being considered!

P.S. Our annual Earth Day Cleanup is happening Friday April 24 & Saturday April 25. Registration opens on Tuesday, February 3 and spots fill up fast. Save the date and watch this space!

Floating Wetland: Cold and Protected

Still hunkered, still bunkered

Each winter, the Charles River Floating Wetland (aka “FWed”) takes a seasonal break from its spot near the Longfellow Bridge and relocates in a sheltered area at the MIT Sailing Pavilion upriver. Even as the river surface freezes on especially cold days, FWed’s roots stay unfrozen thanks to underwater circulators that keep the water gently moving. This “hibernation” retreat helps protect the wetland’s structure and ensures FWed’s bed of native plants can thrive for yet another returning season.

Memorial Drive: Reid Overpass Designs Revealed

Your feedback is critical to a safer riverfront

MassDOT is replacing the William Reid Overpass in Cambridge, with four design options newly presented in a public meeting on January 6. Unfortunately, none fully meet community needs for safety, sustainability, and inclusivity. We’re calling for safer walking and biking routes, fewer roadway lanes to curb speeding and pollution, and comprehensive engagement with impacted neighbors. As Memorial Drive is designated as a parkway, not a highway, we strongly encourage the MassDOT team to work closely with DCR every step of the way.

You can learn more about the project in this StreetsblogMASS article, and stay tuned for our full comment letter on our Advocacy page. In the meantime, please review the designs, share your concerns, and make your voice heard.

Waterfront Accessibility Survey

Exploring how we connect to Boston's waterfront

The Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront (CRIW), in partnership with Java with Jimmy, is inviting residents across the Greater Boston region to share their experiences and perspectives. The CRC, a proud member of the CRIW coalition, is helping spread the word about this effort to better understand how people use and access Boston’s waterfront, and how we can make it more inclusive and resilient for everyone. Insights will help inform how public blue spaces intersect with climate resilience, transportation, public health, and everyday joy. 

Supporter Spotlight

Thank you to the Amgen Foundation for their generous support through the "Dollars for Doers" program, which matches employee volunteer hours with charitable contributions. We were grateful to work alongside Amgen employees in September 2025 cleaning up Magazine Beach. This grant helps double the impact of their hard work and ensures their support goes even further in creating a greener, more vibrant Charles River and parks!

Instagram Action

Welcome to a year of thoughtful beginnings, where every image invites a deeper look. In the spirit of calm reflection, we share a contemplative poem from the archives. (How much do you think has changed, or not, in the last 95 years?) Click to read “Charles River Nocturne” by Robert Fitzgerald, published in Poetry magazine, August 1931.

📷: @smcc_photography