Magazine Beach

Magazine Beach Improvements, Phase 2.2 Pre-Construction Meeting

Tuesday, April 29th @ 6pm – 7:30pm Register for the meeting via the Zoom Registration Link. 

The purpose of this meeting is to present the Magazine Beach Improvements Phase 2.2 Grassy Beach project to the public prior to the start of construction. This project includes: the construction of a wooden dock north of the Powder House and the southwest of the Veterans Memorial swimming pool, a wooden observation deck, a uniform grassy lawn, picnic tables, bike racks, universally accessible parking, new pathways, burying overhead utilities and the restoration of the riverbank with native plantings 

The public will be invited to provide comments during the meeting, after the presentation, by unmuting their microphones, or the chat functionality that will be available through the virtual participation platform. After the meeting, the presentation will be available for viewing on DCR’s Past events for DCR Public Meetings Information web page. DCR encourages the public to share additional feedback, with a deadline for receipt of comments by DCR of May 21^st, 2025. Comments may be submitted via the DCR public comment portal. Please note that the content of comments you submit to DCR, along with your name, town, and zip code, will be posted on DCR’s website. Additional contact information required when commenting, notably email address, will only be used for outreach on future updates on the subject project or property. 

If you have agency-related questions or concerns or would like to be added to an email list to receive DCR general or project-specific announcements, please email Mass.Parks@mass.gov or call 617-626-4973.

Cleanup from 10am-12noon and then join Mass Audubon’s City Nature Challenge from 1-3pm, meeting at the Powder Magazine. 

Also join us next Tuesday, April 29 at 6pm on Zoom for DCR’s Pre-Construction Meeting about Phase II-2, turning the sunken parking lot between the swimming pool and the river into a grassy beach. Work will begin soon. Register here.  Learn more about the meeting here.

Take note: the 2024 Annual Report for Magazine Beach Partners is out! Check out how open green space can bring a community together!

And the April 26, 2025 Boston Globe Magazine just featured Cambridgeport as one of the top 36 spots to live in the Greater Boston Area. Why? “The appeals of Cambridgeport are numerous: elegant houses, the waterfront beauty of Magazine Beach Park, and easy access to the food, culture, and shopping of both Boston and Cambridge.”  

Yes, that was OUR Magazine Beach Park (and our blog) that was featured…

Watch spring unfold at the park and come on down for Mass Audubon’s Nature in the City Festival, featuring a live animal ambassador, music, a food truck and many partner organizations offering fun nature-based activities. For more info about this and other spring programs at Magazine Beach, go to: magazinebeach.org/events.

Starting Saturday, April 12, the Powder Magazine will be open regularly on weekends from noon to 7pm. Also, Mass Audubon is starting a homeschool program and seeking to sign up a few more 6–8-year-olds. See: Magazine Beach Park weekly homeschool program.

See you at the park!

Tomorrow Mass Audubon’s Nature Center will close for the season after offering over a hundred kayaking adventures, nature walks and programs at the park. Today neighbor Amy Jarvis hosted a wreath making workshop. Very fun!

The park is a refuge for all living things. Recently, a red-tailed hawk has been sighted there regularly as have little children joyfully playing in the leaves. I feel thankful for the recent rain–watering our newly planted trees. Today Mass Audubon eco-volunteers were out removing 300 feet of riverside fencing, removing invasive plants and protecting our new trees from nibbling bunnies…

I feel grateful for these 17 acres of green open space and to Mass Audubon, DCR and the Charles River Conservancy for partnering at the park.

DCR has just planted 13 new trees at the park:

• 4 Acer x October Glory—maple, will grow 40-50’ high
• 3 Pinus Strobusm—white pine, will grow 50-80’ high
• 5 Tillia Americana Redmond—American linden, will grow 50-80’ high
• 1 Liquidambar Styraciflua Happidaze—sweetgum, will grow 60-80’

Most are east of the playing fields. DCR’s contractor will water them this fall and then, we hope, the Charles River Conservancy (CRC) will do so. Cambridge will plant more trees at the park in the spring!

DCR is widening the sidewalk from the outdoor gym to the BU Boathouse, making this area safer for both cyclists and pedestrians.

Mass Audubon’s End of the Season Celebration is TONIGHT, October 29, 5:30-7pm, with Bachata Dance, sponsored by us, Magazine Beach Partners, from 7-9pm. Come join us!

The CRC brought Alexandria Real Estate to do a clean up the park last Thursday. They removed 52 pounds of litter from the park and shoreline, painted benches, raked leaves, removed sticks and pulled invasive mugwort.

Go grateful to you, all!

Head of the Charles rowers will be racing today, Saturday, until 4pm and tomorrow, Sunday, from 7:45am-4pm. Races start near the BU boat club and finish at Herter Park, just past the Eliot Bridge. We couldn’t have a more beautiful weekend for this! Stop by and feel the excitement and the beauty of the day.

Stop by the park to admire the fall color. Mass Audubon’s Nature Center remains open weekends, 12-5pm. Thanks to the Erins and Rob for making it such a vital place. Coming up this weekend, Saturday, Oct. 19, 1-5pm, is their program “Heads of the Charles,” how seeds disperse and, of course, the Head of the Charles Regatta, the world’s largest 3-day rowing competition with 11,000 competitors! Single and double sculls launch from Magazine Beach, a great place to gather to watch the race.

Among those will be the many from our own Riverside Boat Club, competing Friday: 7:45am-10:20am; Saturday 7:45am-2:46pm; and Sunday, 8:38am to 4pm. Look for the blue and white jerseys and oars. Go, Riverside!

Riverside will host an open house this Friday, Oct. 18, 4-6pm. Pop in to see Riverside and to learn about rowing and the history of the sport in Boston.

The Greene and Dedmon family and Moore, Brown Crowder and Stillwell families, among others, all gathered at Magazine Beach to celebrate Labor Day today. The food was yummy and the light and river breeze spectacular! What a day at the park…

DCR’s swimming pool may be closed, but Mass Audubon’s programs continue. This Thursday, Sept. 5, come down to the park for Animals & Ice Cream. On Saturday, Sept. 7, Young Paddling (kayaking for families) and on Sunday, Sept. 8, Bird by Bird Art Reception, featuring the work of Nora Charney Rosebaum. For more information go here. All of these programs are FREE!

Take a ride in a dragon boat tonight, August 16, or do Chinese paper cutting and dance with artist Elena Li at the Powder Magazine, 6-8pm. FREE!

Also, the pool is back open and will continue to be so through this Sunday, August 18, when it closes for the season. So come down and take a dip, 11:15am-6:45pm, Saturday and Sunday. What a great summer it’s been at the park! Thank you, Mass Audubon and DCR!

This weekend was magical at the park–with many picnickers, swimmers and dancers. Next Bachata dance class: Sunday, August 25, 6-8pm. FREE, courtesy of Magazine Beach Partners!

This coming week, Mass Audubon will host preschool story time, summer night paddling, nature detectives, an animal & ice cream social and, on Friday, August 2, a Pan in the Park Jamboree! This festival will feature Afro-Caribbean steel drumming, food and crafts. For more info, click here or here. Remember, the pool is open through August 18. Swim there while you can…