Cheers to Volunteers

The parks are green, clean, and ready to be seen!

May is always one of the busiest months in the parks for projects and volunteering, and this one was no exception. Thank you to all of the dedicated community members who helped to ensure the parks are ready for the busy months ahead!

• Team members from Harvard Business School’s Executive Education program removed invasive plants in Hell’s Half Acre, Cambridge.
• Suffolk Construction hosted two volunteer events, where the Suffolk team members removed leaves and brush, managed invasive plants, and picked up litter in Magazine Beach and North Point Park.
• Community volunteers (pictured) helped the CRC with our exciting restoration planting in Hell’s Half Acre! Learn more about the project here.
• Biogen weeded trees rings, removed litter, and painted benches along the Cambridge Parkway.
• Burns & McDonnell and Eversource teamed up to remove litter, weed tree rings, and cut back overgrown and invasive vegetation along Memorial Drive.

You’re invited: Upcoming Open Volunteer Events

When: Saturday, June 13th, 10am-12pm

Where: Hell’s Half Acre

What: We will be working to remove invasive plants throughout the site.

When: Saturday, July 11th, 10am-12pm

Where: Charles River Road in Watertown

What: Weeding garden beds, cutting back overgrown vegetation, removing litter, and managing invasive plants.

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

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

📷: Aaron John Bourque

Ready, Set, Action! for Street Artists-in-Residence

Stop by the skatepark to experience this living gallery firsthand

Our Graffiti/Street Artists-in-Residence, Victoria DelValle and Ananda Toulon, are already transforming the Lynch Family Skatepark by bringing bold color, creativity, and community energy to the space! Their work recently took center stage on CBS Boston, with live coverage from WBZ-TV’s Levan Reid alongside CRC’s Laura Jasinski and Taylor Leonard and DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle. Relive the extra-early morning with us!

All Eyes on Floating Wetlands

Nature-based solutions are making waves

Floating wetlands are getting some well-deserved attention in the headlines, and we’re excited to share it! As Boston welcomes a new floating wetland in Fort Point Channel, our work in the Charles River is popping up in the news, with recent coverage from WBUR and even a front-page story in Monday’s print edition of the Boston Globe. These articles highlight how floating wetlands can help restore habitat, improve water quality, and build resilience right here in our region. Happy reading!

📷: Artemisia Luk

Public Comment OPEN on CSO Plan

Need a sewage-system refresher? We got you

During heavy rainstorms (which are only increasing in frequency and severity with climate change), CSOs send a mix of stormwater and untreated sewage into the Charles and Mystic Rivers, harming water quality, public health, and our shared goal of a swimmable, fishable Charles. The Draft Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Plan from MWRA and the Cities of Cambridge and Somerville is out, and as proposed it will still allow sewage to flow into our rivers during heavy storms. We believe it’s worth the extra investment to do better. Public comment is open now, and this is the moment to speak up. Your voice can help push for a stronger plan. Get the full story, track updates, and find out how to take action on our Advocacy page.

P.S. Right now, there is massive momentum to put the Protect Water and Nature initiative on the November statewide ballot, and over the next few weeks, cities and towns will certify the thousands of collected signatures. As a member of the initiative coalition, we invite you to learn how this proposed law protects our environment and benefits local communities, dedicating as much as $100 million each year to protect our drinking water sources and create more parks and trails, all with no new taxes.

Happy Little Trees on Greenough Boulevard

Targeted tree care work completed on young "street trees"

Building on last year’s successful tree care along Memorial Drive, we once again partnered with DCR and Barrett Tree Service East to provide much-needed soil management and pruning for 57 trees along Greenough Boulevard near Hell’s Half Acre. 29 young trees between the road and bike path received “air-spading” treatment to break up compacted soil, along with refreshed mulch rings to provide protection and organic material. These improvements will enhance long-term root health, allowing the trees to better cope with the stressors of an urban environment. A further 28 trees between the bike path and river were identified for structural and safety pruning to preserve healthy canopy structure while eliminating conflicts with utility lines and path users. We are thrilled with the early results of this project and hope to see these trees thriving for plenty of years along the Charles River!

Riveting! Swimmers Race in the Charles River

Congrats to all the One Mile Swim athletes

Last weekend, CRC’s Impact Director Scott McCue (and 200 new open-water swimming friends!) competed in the 15th Charles River One Mile Swim organized by the Charles River Swimming Club (read more about this annual event in this MyBoston magazine feature).

What was the experience like? In Scott’s words: “It was a perfect day for a swim, brilliantly organized. I hope we have the same great water and weather for CRC’s City Splash on July 18th! The Mile Swim and City Splash appeal for slightly different reasons: The first is a competitive opportunity for folks who feel comfortable swimming a mile in the open water. City Splash is a recreational celebration, appealing to anybody who is enchanted by the idea of a dip in the Charles. Yet, the popularity of both events reminds us to keep working for a Charles which is swimmable every day!”

📷(R): Charles River Swimming Club 

Supporter Spotlight

City Splash 2026 is made possible thanks to our incredible lineup of sponsors. Their generosity and enthusiasm bring this unforgettable day on the Charles River to life, fueling fun, connection, and a shared commitment to a healthier, cleaner river. Please join us in recognizing their support! 

Instagram Action

We love this exciting feature by @MassDCR! Their social media channels spotlit the Charles River Floating Wetland—part science, part habitat, part smol wild island greening up the city. DCR’s Digital Strategist Ryan Hutton captured the wetland doing its thing through multiple seasons on the water. Watch the reel and keep an eye out for more floating wetland fun on @CharlesRiverConservancy.