Latest Win for Nature for Massachusetts Coalition

Protect Water and Nature Ballot Initiative celebrates signature milestone

CRC is a proud member of the Nature for MA coalition, which has gathered well over the required 74,574 voter signatures to advance the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative toward the November 2026 ballot, thanks to broad public support and volunteer effort. On December 1, advocates came together at the State House to celebrate this milestone and accelerate momentum to dedicate existing sales tax revenue to protecting water, public lands, and outdoor recreation across Massachusetts. Look at those beautiful boxes of certified signatures headed to the Secretary of State’s office!

Learn more:

• WBUR: “Nature groups say ballot proposal would tap $100 million from Mass. sales tax for conservation” 
• Nature for MA Press Release 
• About the Protect Water and Nature Ballot Initiative

Extra-Big Cheers for Volunteers

Plus: End-of-season recap

Thank you to all of our fabulous Conservancy Volunteers for another wonderful and productive season along the river. Together, our efforts contribute to reduced park and river pollution, improved biodiversity, and the maintenance of the beauty of the parks. We’re proud to report key stats from the complete 2025 season:

• 69 volunteer events 
• 2,258 volunteers
• 702 bags of litter removed from the Charles River Parks. 
• Earth Day volunteers removed enough litter to fill a 30-yard dumpster!
• 810 bags of invasive plant material and vegetation removed
• 99 benches painted

Want to volunteer with the CRC in 2026? Fill out a volunteer event interest form.

Thank you to everyone who helped us in November prepare the parks for the winter months ahead: 

• Matchpoint Therapeutics worked in Watertown, where they removed 72 pounds of litter and raked leaves
• Boston Green Academy students removed litter and played “park Bingo” along Charles River Road in Watertown 
• Force Factor (pictured) worked in Magazine Beach removing litter and raking leaves
• Milford High School students removed litter and learned about the devastating impact of plastics 
• MIT Media Lab staff removed 89 pounds of litter from the shoreline in Herter Park

Join the 2026 Skatepark Advisory Group

Calling all skaters, artists, and art administrators

Apply to be a part of our 2026 Skatepark Advisory Group (SkAG)! Members of SkAG are compensated to help guide the future of our public art mission at the Charles River Conservancy and help select this year’s Graffiti Artist-in-Residence at Lynch Family Skatepark. We’re looking for skaters, artists, and art administrators to represent the local skate community with a mix of community voices, lived experiences, and arts knowledge to turn ambitious public art and other skatepark goals into a reality. The six-week opportunity runs February 2, 2026 through March 13, 2026.

Applications due Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

P.S. The Call for Graffiti Artists is still open through January 5, 2026! Help spread the word about our 2026 Graffiti Artist-in-Residence opportunity🔥

📷: Ceijay Photography

Floating Wetland Winter Move Success

Reporting live... from the river!

NBC Boston recently featured our floating wetland winter move on the Charles River, from its usual spot by Longfellow Bridge to its cold-weather home at MIT Sailing Pavilion. Brianna Borghi reports how the floating wetland is tucked away safely for the season, the role it plays for the health of the river, and what’s next in store.

CRC Team Update

Thank you to co-op Sam Beacher

With lots of gratitude, next week we say goodbye and good luck to our Project & Event Assistant Sam Beacher, Charles River Conservancy’s Fall 2025 Northeastern co-op. Sam’s work was greatly impactful to the CRC, from producing a mini-doc video with The Loop Lab (be on the lookout soon!) to planning another successful year of Floating Wetland STEAM kit distribution to local public schools.

Sam shared these parting words: “My time spent working for the CRC was more varied and impactful than I could have imagined. I got to support the floating wetland move and enhance Lynch Family Skatepark outreach by starting Artist Scene Spotlights—an Instagram series that highlights local street artists to mirror our Skate Scene Spotlight series—along with so much more. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have met inspiring people and be with the organization during this special time celebrating the first year of the Graffiti Artist-in-Residence program. I’ll never forget the first time I got to kayak on the Charles or my experience working with kids at Cambridge’s annual STEAM It Up! Thanks to everyone who helped me learn and grow these past six months.”

Holiday Market in Harvard Square

Fill your basket, then follow the river

Embrace the holiday season at the Charles River Farmers Market! Set right outside the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square, the market runs year-round on Fridays (12–6pm) and Sundays (10am–3pm). Discover fresh produce, handmade gifts, and tasty local treats while supporting small farms and businesses close to the Charles River. 

📷: @charlesriverfm

Supporter Spotlight

We’re deeply grateful to the individuals, foundations, and corporate partners whose generosity fuels the Charles River Conservancy’s work to care for and enhance the Charles River and its parks. Our supporters from our 2025 fiscal year (October 1, 2024–September 30, 2025) made vital contributions that help keep the Charles River a vibrant and welcoming space for all. Please join us in commemorating their important and impactful support.

Instagram Action

The Floating Wetland—also known as FWed—is safely in its winter home! On Tuesday November 18 the island was towed into hibernation at the MIT Sailing Pavilion and tied up tight for the winter. Check out these photos of the process—aren’t the awesome native plants getting quite tall? Don’t worry—the floating wetland will return to its home at the mouth of the Broad Canal in the Spring. Until then, take a Winter walk along the Charles to the MIT Sailing Pavilion and peek over the railing for a glimpse of the hibernating wetland. Special thanks to DCR and NBC Boston for joining us!