Magazine Beach

It’s spring and work on Phase II-2 has resumed. The dock and outlook will be complete by the end of the week and Metro Equipment Construction are about to plant perennials and seed. Look for green at the construction site soon.

Mass Audubon will open their Nature Center for the season Saturday, April 25—open on Saturdays, for starters.

4/25 1-3pm: Community Science and Art: City Nature Challenge. During this BioBlitz with a twist, explore urban nature to document local species. Then, create art inspired by your findings, which will become part of a mural displayed in the nature center.

5/2 11-3pm: Greener Good Market. Discover unique, eco-friendly treasures at Magazine Beach Park Nature Center’s first ever Greener Good Market! Local vendors will showcase handcrafted goods made from sustainable materials, including upcycled art, natural skincare, zero-waste home essentials, and more. Every purchase supports small businesses and promotes a greener future in our community.

For a complete list of programs, go here. Mass Audubon is NOW HIRING a Paddle Program Lead to deliver kayak programs. 

Many thanks to the Charles River Conservancy for today’s park cleanup. Hope to see you at the park for the Charles River Earth Day Cleanup: Saturday, April 25, 10am-12noon. 

Another amazing season at the park begins!

DCR reports that the deck and dock work will continue in the winter, to be completed by early spring. Some trees have been planted along the pool perimeter and the main layout of the circulation paths have been established. Soon: Eversource will underground the utilities to the Powder Magazine. 

The goal is to work “backwards” from the docks to the parking lot with a goal of completing the job by September 24, 2026. Come spring the contractor will plant the rest of the plants and establish the grassy lawn. The project is 25% complete.

Other changes: In late November, DCR cut back the vegetation along the shoreline between the Powder Magazine and the boat launch. DCR’s landscape architect explained: The willow (salix) that was planted as a main component of the shoreline restoration in Phase 1 has become very large with thick basal growth and lots of deadwood. The original intent of planting willow was to use shrubs to colonize and expand, creating thickets that would reduce invasive establishment and erosion along the river bank. However, to promote colonization and spreading, the old wood must be pruned to encourage the shrubs to push underground. This has not been done to date and why we are undertaking this project now.” The goal is to see lots of new growth at ground level. 

The Nature Center is closed for the winter, but Mass Audubon’s programs continue. Click here to learn more about their monthly bird walks, Afternoons Outside, Winter Tree ID, Fire Skills & Outdoor Cooking and so much more.

Other news: Ken Carson is now the President of Magazine Beach Partners. Hooray! Have questions? Email Ken at ken.l.carson@gmail.com.

We are so grateful for DCR, the City of Cambridge (funders of most of Phase II-2), Mass Audubon and the Charles River Conservancy for their partnership at the park.

Happy holidays to you! –from Magazine Beach Partners

The contractor is driving in the piles for the dock this week. Sorry for the noise, but happy that Phase II-2 is under construction.

Mass Audubon continues to organize amazing events:

Canoemobile! Saturday Sept. 27, 11:30-4pm

Mass Audubon, the CRC and CRWA will be launching 10-person canoes from the boat launch. The focus: experiencing the river and learning about its natural history, plants and animals. (This program seems to be full, but maybe not everyone will show up?!) 

Drumming! Later, 4:30-6:30pm, the Eastern Medicine Singers will be leading a drum circle.

Bachata Dance by the River, Sunday, Sept. 28, 5-7pm. Meet at the Powder Magazine.

Learn about other events here.

Below: Photos of runners passing through and last weekend’s Nature in the City Festival

Yes, the Mass. Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) will break ground for Phase II-2, turning the sunken parking lot into a grassy beach, this Monday, Sept. 8 at 3:30pm at the Powder Magazine.

Please join us for this monumental event. Overseen by DCR and funded by Cambridge and the community, the latter through Magazine Beach Partners, this project will create an acre of useable park between the swimming pool and the river and add a dock and outlook overlooking the Charles River as well. 

Here’s the plan:

In mid-September the contractors will start to install the dock and observation deck. They will then regrade the shoreline and grassy lawn area, installing as many shoreline plugs as possible this fall. In 2026, the contractor will focus on path installation, parking lot improvements, adding benches, picnic tables and bike racks and planting all other materials. 

Looking forward to seeing you at the park and thrilled that this project has begun!

Note: While much of the western part of the park is fenced off, the eastern part remains peaceful and a great place to walk, run, workout, play soccer and picnic, too. Mass Audubon’s Nature Center, also remains open from noon to sunset on weekends. Learn more about their upcoming programs here.

Starting this Monday, DCR will begin the next round of improvements to the park, adding a dock, observation deck and a grassy beach, where there now is a sunken parking lot. Yesterday, in preparation, DCR sprayed the very invasive Japanese knotweed along the shoreline. Keep dogs away!

The spraydeck will be open through mid-September.

This weekend at the park: Mass Audubon’s Nature Center is open! Also, Sunday, August 24: Sound Bath Vibe Session, 3-4:30pm and then Bachata Dance, 6-8pm. Preschool Story Hour at 10am on Monday. For more info click here.

How can it be? Sunday, August 17 at 6:45pm the pool will close for the year. And then–Phase II-2 will begin, turning the sunken parking lot (pictured below) into a grassy beach with dock and river outlook. Hooray! And thanks, Cambridge, for funding these improvements.

Mass Audubon’s Nature Center will remain open. Register for their programs here. Coming this week: a foraging walk, preschool storytime and Summer Nights Paddling. More Bachata Dance and Sound Bath Vibe just ahead. Thanks for a wonderful summer, DCR and Mass Audubon! And thank you, Charles River Conservancy, for your many park cleanups. The park is looking good.

The park was in full swing today with families and friends picnicking, swimming and enjoying the spraydeck. Remember, the FREE pool is open from 11:15am-6:45pm daily!

Fabulous things happening at Mass Audubon’s Nature Center this week as well:

Monday and Wednesday, Yoga at 7:15pm

Tuesday, Paddling at 4:45pm

Thursday, Nature Detectives at 10am

July 11 & 12, Animals & Ice Cream & Meet the Bee Keeper

Click here for more info.

Update: DCR has just replaced the chemical feed pump at the pool to ensure its more reliable opening. Bookmark this page for DCR Park (and pool!) alerts here.

The FREE Swimming pool will be open daily now, 11:15am-6:45pm through August 17. Enjoy it while you can! There will be free swimming lessons offered soon. Sign up here. You must sign up online and NOT at the pool. Registration will open June 30 for the July 14-25 class (on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) and July 14 for the July 28-August 8 class.

Ask lifeguards about lap lane swimming hours.

Bike down to the park. If the rack in front of the pool is filled, park in front of the Powder Magazine Mass Audubon Nature Center. So many fun programs are being offered there. It’s cool at the park.

Stop by the park to cool off. The spraydeck is on. This Saturday, June 21 at 11:15am, the FREE pool opens. It will be open daily, 11:15am-6:45pm through August 17. If you ask DCR’s lifeguards for lap lanes in the morning or in the evening, they usually provide them…

It’s about 10 degrees cooler at the park under the big old shade trees and the red Adirondack chairs beckon.

Also, Mass Audubon’s Urban Nature Center is open weekends, noon to 7pm. (In July & August, it will also be open Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 12-6pm.) For more information about Mass Audubon programs, click here. Coming this weekend: a birdwalk, a class in smartphone nature photography and a medicinal plant walk.

Thanks, the Charles River Conservancy, for the colorful plantings at the spray deck. See you at the park!

It was a lovely and memorable day at Magazine Beach, where I had the privilege of practicing Tai Chi with my instructor and fellow students from Cambridge YMCA. We were honored to have Instructor’s master, Master Mike Yu, a 6th-generation lineage holder of Yang-style Tai Chi, visit us from Taipei. Both my instructors, Zachary Lim and Eileen Yeoh, are 7th-generation lineage holders.

Through Master Yu’s teachings, we gained valuable insights into the importance of cultivating inner calm, breath awareness, and mindful thoughts, as well as the deeper meaning behind each Tai Chi movement. Tai Chi is more than just a series of physical exercises for physical health; it’s a way of life that embodies balance, serenity, and elegance.

–Werner Grundl (From a few weeks ago. Sorry, Werner!)

More fun at the park: This weekend Mass Audubon will host a Pride Festival on Saturday, June 7, 12-4pm. FREE. Sunday, come to the park for Wildcrafting 101 from 2-3:30pm. Register here.