Another Enchanted Evening: Our Benefit Party at Riverside

Over 100 turned out Saturday night for our Benefit Party for the park. The Ruta Beggars, fresh from Berklee, played bluegrass as attendees ate, drank and enjoyed being right on the river, on the first floor balcony and docks of the Riverside Boat Club. (Thank you Riverside, sponsors, attendees, and volunteers!)

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DCR’s Project Manager Rick Corsi led a pre-party tour of the park, showcasing ongoing projects: improvements to the shoreline path, opening up river views, planting trees and native plants, adding new seating and expanding the patio and terrace around the Powder Magazine.

At the event, a rendering of the next phase of work at the park, Phase II-2, was debuted. Phase II-2 will replace the sunken parking lot behind the swimming pool with a grassy beach, better integrating the pool with the park, add a dock and outlook, and replace invasives with native grasses along the shoreline.  Now to find funding for this…

And Representative Jay Livingstone, DCR’s Commissioner Leo Roy, and Cambridge’s City Manager, all major supporters of the park, spoke of their ongoing commitment to realizing the park’s potential. It’s amazing what we’ve accomplished together: we’ve restored the 1818 Powder Magazine, built a spray deck, boat launch and outlook, and are now engaged in shoreline and patio and terrace improvements around the Magazine.

Take note: Sunday, September 22 at 2pm, is the official Ribbon Cutting for the new canoe/kayak launch and outlook. Join in, by boat or by foot, for this celebration of public access to the Charles. Meet at the launch, on the eastern side of the park, beside the BU Bridge.

And, once again, thank you Benefit Sponsors!!!!!!