Skatepark Artists-in-Residence in Full Force

Ooh ooh, check out what's new!

The grey surfaces of Lynch Family Skatepark have exploded in new shapes and colors since Graffiti/Street Artists-in-Residence Victoria DelValle and Ananda Toulon have taken their paint cans to task. Shown above are three recent original pieces (L-R: Cloud Aura; Candy Apple, Muah; Dreamsicle); the concrete “canvas” of the skatepark free walls are continuously evolving with new, expressive, and eye-popping work from local and visiting artists alike. Stop by to see who might be creating something new 👀

Save the date for Saturday, August 15, 2026! From 12pm to 2pm, the Artists-in-Residence will be leading a creative event featuring spray-painting, local vendors, and live music. As always, the festivities will be free and welcome to all ages, experience levels, and abilities. Stay tuned for more details.

Cheers to Volunteers

All smiles, all season, all good!

You’re invited: Upcoming Open Volunteer Event

When: August 15, 2026, 10am-12pm

Where: Hell’s Half Acre (3 Greenough Blvd, Cambridge)

What: Invasive management, litter removal, weeding around tree rings.

Please email Sasha for more information and to RSVP (spots are limited): svallieres@thecharles.org. 

Thank you to our intrepid & generous volunteer groups for June:

• Brooks Running Collective helped clean up North Point Park for Global Running Day.
• RMR cleared lots of invasive species, removed litter, and spring cleaned garden beds at Herter Park.
• Suffolk removed litter and managed invasives at Riverbend Park as well as at Magazine Beach.
• Boston Green Academy students cleaned up Herter Park AND their own campus!
• Community members managed knotweed at Hell’s Half Acre.
• Blue Hour Design (pictured left) weeded tree rings and removed invasives in Watertown.
• Bristol Myers Squibb (pictured right) tackled North Point Park by land AND by sea.
• PayPal helped us clean up garden beds, remove litter, manage invasives, and plant around the spray deck at Magazine Beach.

We also were delighted to gather with many of our dedicated Charles River Environmental Watch (CREW) members last week for a mid-summer social to celebrate their hard work on behalf of the CRC! Despite the heat and a slightly ominous smoke-choked sky, it was a great evening that reinforced how lucky we are to have such amazing volunteers who continue to devote their free time to support our stewardship and restoration efforts. Be sure to thank these wonderful humans if you happen to encounter them out in the parks!

Support "YES on 6" to Protect Water and Nature

You're invited to our ballot initiative launch event

Join us and fellow environmental, conservation, outdoor recreation, and parks advocates from across the state in Boston on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 10am for a celebratory rally on Fiedler Dock on the Esplanade as we launch our "YES on 6" campaign to pass the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative this November 2026 election! Next step is to make sure that every voter in the state understands that voting YES on 6 means dedicated funding to protect water and nature in Massachusetts. Along with fellow environmental leaders, our Executive Director Laura Jasinski will be speaking in support at the launch event. Won’t you join us?

Field-Trip Learning with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay

What better way to observe the river than up close?

The CRC had the great opportunity to work with the wonderful team from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. Our youth engagement started off with talking about the Charles River and the CRC’s mission, and then moved on to some classroom activities on exploring how to protect and enhance local park experiences and infrastructure. The group enjoyed pitching their ideas through a roleplay presentation. Lastly, to end the day with some fun, we kayaked through the Charles River (thanks Paddle Boston!) via Herter Park. While on the water, the participants collected data from what they observed on their kayaking tour. Thanks for learning with us!

📷: Save the Harbor/Save the Bay

Open-Air and Free: Riverstage at Herter Park

Enjoy live music, community theatre, and artful fun for all

Summer doesn’t get better than a festive, free performance along a picturesque Charles River backdrop. From iconic outdoor Shakespeare to a Steely Dan cover band night, from a “Blues and Soul Explosion” to a meditation-centric “Day of Peace,” this season’s Riverstage at Herter Park is jam-packed with a diverse slate of lively entertainment. Check out what’s in store on the Riverstage event schedule.

CRC Team Updates, July Edition

Welcome Shrivibha! See you soon Jeremy!

Shrivibha (Shri) Lanka joined CRC as our newest Project & Event Assistant. Shri (she/her) is a Business Administration and Psychology student at Northeastern University with an interest in finance, marketing, event planning, and community engagement. Shri enjoys bringing people together through creative projects and meaningful experiences. Please join us in welcoming Shri to the team!

We also wish to express heartfelt thanks and well wishes to Jeremy Green (he/him), CRC’s Land Stewardship Coordinator. As his TerraCorps service year comes to a close, Jeremy shares some parting words: “These 11 months have absolutely flown by, which is a testament to what a joy and privilege it’s been working with such a tremendous group of colleagues, volunteers, and community partners. From my very first litter pickup back in September all the way to City Splash this past weekend, this position has given me the opportunity to engage with the Charles in so many different ways, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone at the CRC and beyond who have helped make that possible. I started this role ready for the potentially thankless and frustrating challenge of keeping the Charles clean, but after witnessing the extensive knowledge and passion of the wider CRC community, I leave with boundless optimism for the future of the river, having seen what a difference it makes when people care! I am very excited to stay connected with the CRC as I transition into graduate school at UMass Boston. Hope to see you all out in the parks or at community events in the near future!”

Your Input Needed on Active Transportation Plan

Help shape the future of walking and biking around the Boston region

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is working to identify gaps in our region’s walking and biking infrastructure as a first step in developing an active transportation plan for the 97 cities and towns in the Boston area. They need your help to pinpoint these gaps and help planners understand how they affect your daily life. The survey will be open until July 30, 2026, and the MPO expects to share a summary of the data collected later this year.

Supporter Spotlight

Thank you to HMFH Architects for their generous support of the Charles River Conservancy’s stewardship program and energetic volunteering at cleanups! Their partnership provides critical resources for ecological restoration, environmental programming, and free community engagements along the Charles. We are proud to work together towards a cleaner, healthier, and more accessible river for all.

Instagram Action

With its free walls aplenty, every day is an art and skate day at Lynch Family Skatepark! Local illustrator and quad skater Emma Copeland captured quite a few talented creatives leaving their expressive marks on the concrete pillars interspersed among the skatepark’s ramps, bowls, and features. You’ll recognize the CRC Graffiti/Street Artists-in-Residence, Victoria DelValle and Ananda Toulon, among the painting crew. Who knows who you might see next time you visit the park? Watch the reel and get to know more local artists!