Health & Fitness
Five Tough Areas
Hi Friends,
Just sounding the old alert. After the past five years of working on local trails and conservation lands here in Natick, I've developed a "short list" of our most challenging areas. Many of you have already worked on them and I deeply appreciate it. Here's the bottom line: I'm going to need some more help.
Today I spent 2 - 3 hours cleaning up Blueberry Island and the Lakeview Ave "Beach," part of Dug Pond. It's summer party season so I wasn't totally surprised. But the hard core party people had tossed the BHLF unit down the embankment and scattered bottles, cans, trash, everywhere. It was a difficult clean-up; I appreciate how frustrating it is for folks who don't do this type of trashing. Together (with the Natick HS Earth Club, BHLF (Big Heart Little Feet) Trail Buddies, neighbors, and others) we had actually cleaned up the entire Island, Pond, and Donahue Boat Landing a little more than a month ago, 6/14.
Clearly we need some help from Natick PD. But that will not be enough. People have suggested that we install remote cameras and signage (for which I don't have the funds). Not sure the Town would do it either.
We do have a growing group of dedicated parents, clergy, students, teachers, other citizens who are doing something about this. The emerging Natick Youth Center Project will certainly help (Pastor Ian Mevorach, Dan Dick, and Anne LaFluer, among others), are helping to make this a real option for Natick youth. The formidable group (Natick Youth Together) under great new leadership (Katy Sugarman, and others) is also poised to help some of the troubled people engaged in the under-age drinking, drugging, and trashing.
Our task is complex. I'm trying to "fire up people" about the local environment. And my dear friend Peter Golden continues to emphasize the historical and cultural values of these places. WE need a team approach: the BOS, The Natick PD, The Schools, in particular, history and science teachers, the Historical Commission, the Trails Committees, the Conservation Commission, the DPW, and grass roots organizations. For example, just north of the Dug Pond Island (which I call "Blueberry Island"), there was once an Ice House which supplied ice to folks before the advent of electric refrigeration. Nowadays it's foundation ("The Wall") is used as a changing Graffiti "Bill Board" for Natick HS Students.
The other Four Areas: Coolidge Hill, The Sport Bike Area and Middlesex Path -- the sacred pathway of the Underground RailRoad, Pegan Cove, and the little "Carling Pond Beach" behind Toolmex Corp on Rte 9. They are often targeted by hard core party folks and trashers. Although we're making some progress in each, we still need more "troops."
Come join me in this effort. We can actually do it: heal the beautiful areas and rekindle an interest and passion for our local history. I would be delighted to hear your ideas as well. Thanks, pat