Open Call: Skatepark Advisory Group

Exciting paid opportunity to shape our Graffiti Artist-in-Residence Program

The Charles River Conservancy is rolling out our very first Artist-in-Residence program in 2025. This exciting initiative builds on years of extensive community engagement, including our Public Art Forum Series, the Social Justice Skate Jam, and our partnership with public art consultants. With feedback from over 200 park users, we’ve advocated for extended skatepark hours and developed a vision for public art that reflects the needs and creativity of the skatepark community. With DCR’s support, we are turning that vision into reality.

We’re kicking it off by embracing graffiti and street art at the Lynch Family Skatepark on Thursday, October 3, 4-7pm: Free Walls Fantasy: Skate // Paint // Imaginate (more event details). We invite passionate skaters, artists, art administrators, and community members to say hi and learn more about the skatepark public art process.

To ensure the success of the Artist-in-Residence program, we invite members of the public to apply to be a founding member of our Skatepark Advisory Group. The CRC seeks diverse voices for the advisory group to help support the Graffiti Artist-in-Residence program and advocate for the skatepark community. The Short-Form Application is open to all ages, and we encourage folx with varied backgrounds and skills to apply.

Please share this opportunity with your friends, family, and networks. Applications will be accepted through October 20, 2024. Individuals who are selected to join will be compensated for their time and expertise. If you’re passionate about serving the local skate community and enhancing the Lynch Family Skatepark experience, we want to hear from you!

📷: Clyde Carmant

Sign up for COASTSWEEP Cleanup

One of the largest volunteer events of the year

Saturday, September 21, 2024, 10am-12pm: Join us at Herter Park in Brighton as part of our COASTSWEEP Cleanup—an annual fall tradition! Join in on this state-wide initiative organized by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management to clean up shores and beaches. Thousands of volunteers throughout Massachusetts collect trash and record what they find. This information is then analyzed and used to identify sources of marine debris and develop education and policy initiatives to help reduce it. Please email Sasha to RSVP: svallieres@thecharles.org.

📷: mass dot gov

Cheers to Volunteers!

We're grateful for helping hands

Summer flew by! Thank you to the 180 volunteers who supported the Charles River Parks this August, readying them for the return of students and the busy fall months ahead:

• Harvard Law School managed invasive plant species in Hell’s Half Acre.
• New England Development painted benches, removed litter, and cut back overgrown vegetation along the Cambridge Parkway.
• MIT Media Lab (pictured above) removed litter and invasive plants along Memorial Drive.
• Novartis painted benches and picnic tables, removed litter, and cut back bittersweet in the Magazine Beach Park area.
• Hayden Consulting Group removed litter, painted benches, and cut back overgrown vegetation in North Point Park.
• Community members joined our open volunteer event to remove invasive plants in Hell’s Half Acre.
• MITsdm picked up 50 pounds of litter along Memorial Drive.
• Pick Up Massachusetts removed 60 pounds of litter from Riverbend Park shoreline.

Don’t forget to check back on our website for newly added volunteer opportunities!

Join Us at Cambridge Science Fest!

See what's afloat on the Floating Wetland

Want to dive deeper into understanding floating wetlands? Join the CRC for an engaging Brown Bag Lunch & Learn as part of the jam-packed Cambridge Science Festival. Whether you're a floating wetland newbie or have been a fan since its installation in the Charles River, this family-friendly talk offers a unique opportunity to hear personal stories, get updates on the newly installed tomato plants and the fish cam, and learn more about green infrastructure innovation. Bring your lunch and hop into the MIT Museum for this fun, free event on Tuesday, September 24, from 12-12:45pm. Registration is not required but strongly encouraged. Pro tip: The MIT Museum is free during the Cambridge Science Festival—how awesome is that?

Remember these bluegills we spotted at the snack bar on the floating wetland fishcam? Thank you for sending in name ideas! Honorable mentions go out to Charlie and Charlotte, Click and Clack, Bert and Ernie, and Bernice and Bernie. That said, we’d like to announce the extremely super official government names bestowed upon our fish friends: Bluey and Bingo! What new fun adventures await them next? Stay tuned!

📹: Captured with the HelioCase Solar-Powered Remote Field Camera, developed by Kevin Bennett et al. with MIT Sea Grant

Advocacy

Massachusetts Biodiversity Goals

The CRC recently submitted a comment letter to Commissioner Tom O'Shea of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game regarding the state's new biodiversity conservation goals. In our letter, we expressed our enthusiastic support for Governor Healey's Executive Order 618 and the Department's outlined goals, especially those focused on climate resilience, landscape-scale restoration, and integrating nature-based solutions. We also highlighted how our own initiatives—like floating wetlands, parklands stewardship, and our vision for a swimmable Charles River—align perfectly with these biodiversity objectives. We’re eager to contribute our expertise and resources to help turn these important conservation goals into reality for everyone in Massachusetts.

Revels RiverSing Returns

Join "Two Dragons Dancing" along the Charles

Annual celebration Revels RiverSing returns on Saturday, September 28, 2024 by the John W. Weeks Footbridge near Harvard Square. This free event features the Equinox Waltz led by the titular “two dragons” Nigel and Desmond, with performances by musicians, Morris dance teams, and choirs. Bring your family and friends to enjoy a beautiful evening by the river.

📷: "Revels RiverSing" by kbmaloney is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Supporter Spotlight

We are grateful to the Kendall Square Association for their support during the 2024 Kendall Square Challenge. As one of the five nonprofit organizations benefiting from this event, the Charles River Conservancy is proud to have received a generous donation of $10,000. This contribution will significantly aid our efforts to maintain and enhance the Charles River and its parks. Thank you KSA for your commitment to supporting local nonprofits and making a meaningful impact in our community.

Instagram Action

Check out our recurring Skate Scene Spotlight on Instagram, where we highlight local skaters and crews—some of our most passionate riverfront park users! If you know folks who deserve recognition, send us a DM or leave a comment on a post. All wheels and abilities are welcome at Lynch Family Skatepark, tucked within North Point Park along the Charles River. Follow our series to stay updated and help us showcase the talent in our skate community.

📷: Tucker Horan