Magazine Beach

For over fifty years, Nellie has been bringing her family to the park to close the day and celebrate important occasions. Tonight, about 30 members of her family were there to honor her birthday.  It was a love fest. Gifts: a bouquet of flowers, a roll of dollars—81 of them, I think—and many rolls of toilet paper. (A desired, practical gift.)

Coming this week at the park:

Evening Yoga, Tuesday, September 5, 5:30-6:30pm

A Pollinator Garden Planning Workshop, Saturday, Sept. 9, 3:30-5pm

Container Gardening for Beginners, Saturday, Sept. 10, 1-3pm

THE SPRAY DECK IS STILL OPEN!

Apparently, Saturday’s Poetry program was spectacular! Thanks to Scott Ruescher for organizing it. More to come.

Gorgeous day at the park today with a Nature in the City Festival featuring Japanese storyteller Yumi Izuyama, music by Saklamara and Bachata dance. And it’s still happening…

Mass Audubon’s September program has just come out. See events here. Coming this fall: two more festivals, poetry, yoga, a pollinator garden planting workshop, more Bachata and so much more.

Starting September 2, the Nature Center will be open for drop-in activities Saturday and Sundays only, from 12noon-5pm. 

See you at the park!

8.23.23 Update: Due to Friday’s rain forecast, Mass Audubon’s Nature in the City Festival has been moved to THIS Sunday, 8.27, 3-6pm. Bachata Dance will follow, courtesy of Magazine Beach Partners.

The last swim of the summer is today at Magazine Beach. Head down now. The pool closes at 6:45pm. Many thanks to DCR and to Mass Audubon for an amazing season at the park!

But there’s more to come:

The spraydeck will remain open and, in the next weeks, there’s Mindfulness, Storytime, Nature Detectives, Sound Bowl Vibe Session, another Nature in the City Festival, Bachata and so much more! Check here or here for updates.

 And don’t forget that Mass Audubon’s Urban Nature Center at the Powder Magazine will remain open with free drop-in activities (and bathrooms!) Thursday-Monday, 12-7pm, until Sept. 1. After then, it will be open Saturday and Sundays only, 12noon-5pm, until November 30.

Enjoy it all!

So many friends and families enjoying the park today….

This week at the park:

Preschool Storytime Monday, August 7, 10-10:30am

Enjoy a nature-based story read by the librarians of the Central Square Branch in Cambridge.

Preschool Nature Detectives Thursday, August 10, 10-11am

From the river to robins and cattails to katydids, we will explore different aspects of the park each week to discover all the hidden mysteries around us.

Drop by the Powder Magazine for Mass Audubon’s free drop-in activities (and bathrooms!) Thursday-Monday, 12-7pm. For more information about Mass Audubon’s programs, click here.

Yesterday, we celebrated the overall improving report card for the cleanliness of the Charles, Mystic and Neponset Rivers.

51 years ago, Congress passed the Clean Water Act, the landmark legislation that called for all waterways in America to be fishable and swimmable by 1983.

We’re not there yet, but we’re seeing improvement. In 2022, sections of the Charles, Mystic and Neponset rivers received A and B grades. The river at Magazine Beach received a B, however, down from a B+ in 2021 and 2020 and an A- in 2019, but up from a D in 1996!

Much of the bacterial contamination comes from Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), when waste water and storm water mix. For more information about The Charles River Initiative of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), click here.

Also keeping us from swimming in the river are heavy metals and PCBs in the sediment—waste from industry along the river long ago.

May we one day be bathing once again at Magazine Beach, once the Charles River’s most popular swimming beach!

The park was in full swing last night with Bachata dance, sponsored by Magazine Beach Partners. Many were picnicking there, including 4 generations of the Green/Dedmon family who gather there regularly all summer long. They were celebrating a birthday and playing croquet.

Great stuff just ahead this week:

Wed., 7am, Yoga

Thurs., 10am, (Preschool) Nature Detectives

Thurs., 3-5pm, Blueprinting Along the Charles. Register here. (Just one slot still open!)

Thurs., 7pm, Climate Change Films

Fri., 5-8pm, Nature in the City Festival

All programs are free. And the pool, spray deck and nature center are open. For more information, see: https://magazinebeach.org/events/. Remember story hour at the park is Mondays @ 10am. And most days are great for picnicking with the cool river breeze and large shade trees!

UPDATE: 7.18.23: Tomorrow’s Wed. morning yoga class is cancelled! Sorry! We’ll add another class Wed., August 2 @ 7am in it’s place. FREE!

Update 7.8.23: The pool is fixed. Head to the park for a swim!

Just heard from DCR: The pool was down yesterday for a mechanical repair and contractor is still working there now.  Additional parts and a new pump were needed and we hope to have the pool open later today.

The best means to keep up to speed on the pool operation and all DCR Parks is the new parks alert system:

DCR Park Alerts | Mass.gov

Just stopped by at the park and I can confirm that this is true. The pool is CLOSED, but the spraydeck is OPEN and so is Mass Audubon’s Urban Nature Center (and its bathrooms)! Stop by: its 10 degrees cooler at the park, with the river breeze and those big old shade trees… Thank goodness for Magazine Beach!

7.8.23 Update: The Pool is Closed, but May Open Later Today

Just heard from DCR: The pool was down yesterday for a mechanical repair and contractor is still working there now.  Additional parts and a new pump were needed and we hope to have the pool open later today.

The best means to keep up to speed on the pool operation and all DCR Parks is the new parks alert system:

DCR Park Alerts | Mass.gov

The spraydeck is open! And it’s 10 degrees cooler at the park, with the river breeze and those big old shade trees…

Clouds and rain kept the crowds from the park today—but still there were picnics. The pool was open and there was lots of room to play.

Note: Wednesday morning yoga is ON. 7-8:30am in the Powder Magazine!

Many thanks to Leigh O’Sullivan’s family, the Long brothers, and to Cadette Girl Scout Troop 62733 for planting the spraydeck planters. There are buckets there for watering. Please help!

The spraydeck and NEW swimming pool are open!!!!

Both are free; the pool is open 11:15am-6:45pm daily.

Also, Bachata Dance TONIGHT, Sunday, June 25, 6-8pm, at the Powder Magazine.  And there’s yoga, again, this Wednesday, June 28, 7-8:30am. Both are free and sponsored by Magazine Beach Partners.

And starting Monday, Mass Audubon’s Nature Center will be open Thursday-Monday, 12-7pm. Stop by and engage in drop in activities. 

See photos below from Thursday’s Blue Printing Along the Charles (cyanotype workshops). You can still sign up here. A few spaces are still open for July 20 and 27th workshops. It’s very fun and the results are spectacular!

It’s almost summer with swimming, splashing, picnicking and programs at the park.

Morning Yoga begins TOMORROW, Wednesday, June 21, 7-8:30am. Teacher: Arti Pandey. For ages 12 and up. Bring your matt. Meet at the Powder Magazine. (June 21-July 26)

From the Tree to Log Drum, Saturday, June 24, 5-8pm, for adults and families. Listen to the voice of the trees speaking through the sound of the log drum.

The Brand New FREE Olympic-Sized Pool Opens this Sunday, June 25 (and maybe Saturday) @ 11:15am! It will be open 11:15am-6:45pm until mid-late August!!!!!

Bachata Dancing, Sunday, June 25, 6-8pm, with Liz and Lumyr. (June 25, July 23 & August 27)

Register for these FREE events here.

There are a few more places for the Cyanotype Workshops Thursday, July 20, 3-4 and 4-5pm, and Thursday, July 27, 3-4 and 4-5pm are open. To sign up, click here.

See you at the beach–Magazine Beach!