City Splash is Effectively Sold Out!

Here's one more way to get on the swim list

We're absolutely thrilled and overwhelmed by the incredible enthusiasm for our City Splash event. We can't wait to see everyone take the plunge in the Charles River and join us in a movement to reclaim urban river swimming. Registration for the day’s swim spots went like hot cakes and disappeared within an hour of their release. 

If you didn’t catch a ticket in time, there’s still hope: We’re currently recruiting event volunteers! As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to swim, be a valuable team member, and contribute to the day's fun. If you are interested in volunteering for City Splash on July 13th, and available for the rain date on July 20th, please fill out a volunteer request form. Please note that submitting the form does not guarantee a volunteer space. We will contact you once all inquiries are processed. Spread the word to friends and family! 

Thank you so much to our event sponsors:

Monthly Volunteer Roundup

We appreciate all your hard work!

May was full of showers, flowers, and volunteers! Thank you to 183 volunteers, who prepared the parks for the busy months ahead (there’s a definite theme: garlic mustard!):

• Harvard Business Publishing worked in Hell’s Half Acre, removing garlic mustard and honeysuckle
• Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP tackled garlic mustard in the Riverbend Park area
• City on a Hill Charter School students collected litter in Riverbend Park
• Community volunteers from Watertown and beyond addressed invasive garlic mustard, raked leaves, and removed litter in Cannalonga Park 
• Ecast Productions weeded garden beds, cut back overgrown vegetation, and removed litter in Watertown Square
• Microsoft pulled garlic mustard and cut back bittersweet along Memorial Drive
• Rome Therapeutics braved the rain and removed garlic mustard and weeded the Eliot Bridge garden beds in Herter Park
• Mirakl cut back invasive vegetation along Memorial Drive, between the Pierce and DeWolfe Boathouses
• International School of Boston students raked leaves and removed litter in Herter Park
• Blue Wave Energy removed bindweed and weeded garden beds in Magazine Beach Park
• Youth Enrichment Services youth spread wood chips in the Herter Park Memorial Gardens
• Fundamental Media cut back bittersweet along Memorial Drive

Floating Wetland Learning Tours

Getting up close and personal on the water

We had an incredible time kayaking and boating to see the floating wetland this season with local community organization La Colaborativa (pictured), as well as the Friends Select School, who traveled all the way from Philadelphia to join us. For many participants, it was their first time out on the Charles River—very exciting to share it all together!

It was incredible to talk with youth and learn about their interests and experiences in STEM and environmental justice initiatives. Special thanks to our amazing partners at Paddle Boston and the Charles River Boat Company for making these trips possible.

Skater Showcase: Skate Hags

Why we heart this local skate collective

Boston-based Skate Hags fosters an inclusive, beginner-friendly skate environment through their various meetups and events. They encourage anyone who is interested in skating and skate culture to join—skateboards, inline skates, and roller skates galore! Previous events have included Pride Night (pictured), Canadian Tuxedo Night, and Goth Night. Follow them on Instagram at @skatehags to stay up to date (and to not miss out on the next fun themed skate night!).

Photo: Lizzie Torres @lizzmarieinma

Event Recap: Shaping Shared Spaces

A call for innovation in public and community spaces

On May 2, we were honored to be part of the "Shaping Shared Spaces" session at the MIT Museum as part of the "Design Redefined" series. The event featured a design-centric panel of experts which included the CRC’s Taylor Leonard (Program Manager, Community Partnerships) and Hermela Shimelis, a current student at Cambridge Rindge and Latin and Innovators with Purpose Emerging Innovator. Co-hosted by MIT Morningside Academy for Design and Innovators for Purpose, the panel shared insights and discourse on designing inclusive public spaces that foster community. We love harnessing design as a powerful tool for positive change!

Photo: Felipe Figueiredo

Advocacy

CRC Executive Director joins the DCR Stewardship Council

We are proud to announce that our Executive Director, Laura Jasinski, has been appointed to the DCR Stewardship Council, filling the previously vacant Environmental Seat. The DCR Stewardship Council, a thirteen-member advisory body appointed by the Governor, plays a crucial role in overseeing and assisting DCR in managing over 450,000 acres of state parks and natural resources throughout Massachusetts. Laura's dedication to environmental stewardship and expertise in urban park management will be a tremendous asset to the Council as it continues its vital work in protecting and enhancing our state's natural, cultural, and recreational resources. Please join us in congratulating Laura on this appointment!

Allston Multimodal Project Status

This week, the Allston Multimodal Project Task Force's hybrid meeting (hosted by MassDOT) highlighted crucial environmental and community concerns. In addition to reviewing a summary of previously presented shoreline design options (including a high-level concept incorporating floating wetlands) along the Throat Area, discussions mainly focused on the tenuous debate between prioritizing parkland and green space versus additional roadway lanes. Working groups, including one dedicated to the Throat Area/Charles River co-led by representatives from MassDOT and DCR, have been newly established as permitting deadlines loom. Continued updates and opportunities for community input are expected as advocates push for design solutions that are considerably more creative, aspirational, and innovative than what has been presented thus far. Learn more about CRC’s advocacy priorities.

Apply Now: Land Stewardship Coordinator

Join our team for the TerraCorps 2024-2025 season

Exciting news! We're seeking a TerraCorps Service Member to fill the role of Land Stewardship Coordinator (LSC). TerraCorps partners with a network of 40+ nonprofits in Massachusetts and Rhode Island focused on community needs related to local land conservation and sustainable agriculture. From August 26, 2024 through July 25, 2025, the Land Stewardship Coordinator will work alongside our Stewardship and Volunteer Program Manager, leading community service projects and empowering volunteers in environmental practices. From enhancing our Charles River Environmental Watch program to coordinating our annual Earth Day Cleanup, this is your chance to make a lasting impact with the Charles River Conservancy. If you're passionate about conservation and community engagement, check out the LSC position description and apply now via the TerraCorps applicant portal. 

Supporter Spotlight

The CRC is grateful for our partnership with the Watertown Community Foundation, which funds positive change for people who live and work in Watertown. Since 2011, funding from the Watertown Community Foundation has made possible our work with Watertown youth and neighbors at events like the Earth Day Cleanup and Watertown Helps Out to support vital parks and ecosystems along the Charles. The Foundation helps the CRC to build relationships that support social and environmental connections for Watertown. Thank you Watertown Community Foundation for your support!

Instagram Action

June is National Rivers Month! Play river bingo for a chance to win a Massachusetts Rivers Alliance Hydro Flask water bottle. Ping us at @CharlesRiverConservancy if you’re playing along. To kick things off, here’s a little turtle we recently spotted at Hell’s Half Acre. Which bingo squares are you most excited to cross off?