Daily Archives: July 25, 2012

Charles River Clean Up Boat Update

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From our friend Tom McNichol of the Charles River Clean Up Boat, a post Fourth of July update:

“We got the river clean early this year with help for the Charles River Yacht Club, and kept it clean until the 4th of July.

Again we all had a world class party, one the whole city can be very proud to be part of. Even the evacuation and rain had little effect on the enthusiasm, and patriotism, displayed. Part of the deal is after every party you have to clean up. We expect it every year, and consider it our contribution to the bash. We started our part of the clean up on July 5th.

Now a little information on fireworks. Every rocket has a tube it is fired from. These tubes are loaded days in advance and each one has a colorful plastic cap covering the upturned end. It’s purpose is to keep water and debris out of the charges prior to firing. When the weather is good these caps are removed prior to firing. This year it is a good thing that they were not removed, as it began to pour just as the first rocket was fired. You guessed it, the down side is hundreds, maybe thousands were fired into the river in addition to the normal residue from the rockets. See attached photos.

We will keep finding them for months as they come out from under docks and the bushes. The good news is, after 4 days on the river, we have picked up all of the obvious ones. The rest we will get on subsequent trips, but you should not see any as you walk along the river. In fact we are back to a clean beautiful river.

Funding wise we are getting to where we need to be. I am sure a number of our supporters just haven’t got around to sending the check.. I need to get on the phone and make some calls. Just not my favorite activity and I tend to procrastinate.

As to volunteers…WOW… we already have crews for every scheduled day for the rest of the year. This is the first time we have filled up so early. Thank you very much, everybody

The boat is running strong, the weather has been clear and dry, for the most part, the river is clean and the concerts are in full swing.

You have played a part in keeping the wonderful playground beautiful. Come out and enjoy.”

If you are interested in making a donation to support the operation of the Clean Up Boat, please contact Tom McNichol at 508.877.3624, or email  cleanupboat@yahoo.com.

Sunday, August 5, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Circle The City

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Circle The City will feature a car-free corridor on Sunday, August 5, between 10 – 1, along the Rose Kennedy Greenway downtown. Come out and walk, bike, roll and play on Open Streets. All Circle The City events will include free live performances, outdoor fitness, dance and yoga classes, Farmer’s Markets, bike clinics, children’s activities, culinary demonstrations, roller skating, hula hooping, and countless other opportunities to have fun on the streets and in the parks. A 2012 Urban Signature Project of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, Circle The City is a collaborative venture of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, the Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness, LivableStreets Alliance, Franklin Park Coalition and the City of Boston. Demonstrating an innovative model connecting conservation and recreation, Circle The City will serve as a national leader for exemplifying healthy living in the city and improved accessibility to urban green spaces. For more information, visit www.emeraldnecklace.org/circle-the-city/.

In crowded cities around the U.S. and the world, Open Streets initiatives are drawing people out of their homes and cars and onto miles of safe, car-free streets to celebrate active urban living in our most public space. With community-building, healthy lifestyles and park accessibility at the heart of these events, Open Streets engage participants of every age and background.  The goals of Circle The City focus on encouraging healthy engagement with our parks by all residents of Boston, and include:

Improving neighborhood accessibility to parks and open space.
Gathering the community for free activities and performances on safe, car-free streets.
Increasing the involvement of youth in our parks through summer employment programs and regularly scheduled activities for children.

Circle The City is not a parade, nor is it a race. Rather it is a unique opportunity to safely enjoy the streets and explore new neighborhoods and parks.