Around Town

Pedestrian Bridge Over Charles River in Watertown Being Replaced

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The Joseph Thompson Pedestrian Bridge over the Charles River, west of Watertown Square, is out of commission for a while as the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) constructs a new span. 

The new bridge will be less sloped than the present one, so that it meets ADA accessibility requirements, according to the DCR. Construction will be completed by the end of 2017, depending on weather and other factors, a DCR release said. The final work may not be finished until the spring of 2018. The total cost of the project will be $1.5 million, which includes fabricating a new bridge, remove the old bridge and construct a new supporting substructure elements – such as footings, abutments, and retaining walls.

Arsenal Mall

LETTER: Tower at Arsenal Mall Too Tall, Will Loom Over Charles River

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To the citizens of Watertown, regarding the Arsenal Project MP/SP proposal,

As I sat in the audience of the Planning Board meeting of Dec. 14, 2016, I was again disappointed. In over a year of meetings the issue which I thought would have been a major concern to both the citizens of Watertown, the city councilors and the city planning department employees was rarely discussed. The issue I am referring to is the development of a 12 story building (building “G”) approximately 100 feet from Greenough Boulevard. Now the reason the developer wants to build this building is obvious.

Around Town

Celebrate the New Charles River Path, Park & Join a Guided Walk or Bike Ride

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Come out to see the improved Charles River Path, the new park along the river, and join in a guided walk or bike ride around the area or just enjoy the park and play some games. 

The event will be on Sunday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. t0 1 p.m., and is part of Watertown Moves. The event is sponsored by Live Well Watertown and the Watertown Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, and co-sponsored by Livable Watertown. The activities will be held a the newly refurbished Watertown Riverfront Park, featuring the Braille Trail, on Charles River Road at Irving Street (see the map below). Knucklebones will be at the park to facilitate games and group activities.

Around Town

Improved Riverside Park a World Class Example of Accessibility for the Blind

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The recently refurbished section of the Charles River Path east of Watertown Square not only replaced crumbling paths with smooth and clean new ones, but added new features so that the blind and visually impaired can get more out of their visit to the area. 

State officials joined local supporters at the ribbon cutting for the Watertown Riverfront Park and Braille Trail on Thursday morning. The celebration came many years after the idea of improving the area first surfaced. “This is my first time here, and I am shocked how beautiful it turned out,” said Matt Beaton, Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. “It is truly a gem along the gem we have in our Charles River.” New sand-cover paths wind along about 5,000 feet of the riverfront near the intersection of Charles River Road and Irving Street, with features such as overlooks and areas to view the river, similar to other sections of the Charles River.

Around Town

Library Offering Guided Walk Along Charles River With Nature Photographer

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A local nature photographer will lead a guided walk along the Charles River in conjunction with the Watertown Free Public Library. The library sent out the following information:

Spring time along the Charles is rich with wildlife. On Saturday, June 4 at 10:30 a.m., naturalist photographer Carole Berney will host a guided river walk starting on the patio outside the Watertown Free Public Library at 123 Main St. Feel free to bring your cameras! The walk is limited to 15 people, ages 16 and up.

Around Town

Hundreds of Volunteers Clean Up Charles River for Earth Day

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On Saturday, April 30, over 300 people volunteered in Watertown as part of the 17th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup. In a collaboration led by Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), over 3,000 volunteers from 133 groups throughout the watershed worked together to remove litter and debris as well as eradicate invasive species in an effort to beautify the Charles River and surrounding parklands, the CRWA announced. For 17 years the Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup has provided thousands of volunteers an opportunity to serve as parkland stewards at sites throughout the Charles River watershed including in Watertown. Through their service, volunteers deepen their connection to the Charles River while increasing their commitment to protect it. On Saturday, participants joined thousands of volunteers across Massachusetts who came together for Park Serve Day MassParks’ annual statewide day of volunteer service.

Environment

LETTER: Coordinators Wanted to Lead Spring River Cleanups

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To The Editor,

Help Us End Litter: Join the Great Massachusetts Cleanup

So far, the amount of snowfall this winter is nowhere near the levels we experienced last year. While this is good news for municipal snow removal budgets across Massachusetts, the lack of snow is bad news for anyone who enjoys a break from seeing the litter that has piled up along our roadsides. Unfortunately, litter has become a serious problem all over our state. Trash along our major highways, suburban streets, in small wooded areas, and along secluded country roads is not only ugly, but it sends the message that Massachusetts doesn’t care much about its appearance. For a state that relies on tourist dollars to fuel a large portion of its economy, this makes little sense.

Charles River

Pedestrian Bridge Over Charles River Will be Replaced

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The pedestrian bridge over the Charles River west of Watertown Square will be replaced by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The bridge will be completely replaced so it will be accessible by people with disabilities, said Dan Driscoll, DCR’s Director of Recreation Facilities Planning and Design. “The current bridge does not meet ADA requirements,” Driscoll said. The new bridge will be a prefabricated one, but for a short time there will be no pedestrian access at that point in the river, Driscoll said. The project will be bid this fall, and work will be done in the spring of 2016, he said.