DCR to Improve Safety on
Storrow Drive and Soldiers Field Road

The Department of Conservation and Recreation will undertake repairs designed to improve safety along Storrow Drive and Soldiers Field Road, and to heighten visitors' experience within the Charles River Reservation. Planned upgrades to the fitness area provide an opportunity for DCR to obtain community suggestions. The DCR is currently soliciting bids for the project. [Click to read full letter from DCR Commissioner Rick Sullivan.]

CRC Now Seeking to Hire
Swimmable Charles Coordinator

The successful candidate is a self-motivated individual who is a team player and is willing to dive into this complicated issue, which involves interaction with a number of agencies, non-profits, and other stakeholders. The position entails independent project management and reports directly to the President of the Conservancy. [Read full job description of Swimmable Charles Coordinator.]

Conservancy watercolor note cards
now available!

Click here for details

RiverSing 2008
Bridging the Charles with voice and light
and
Conservancy Dinner Reception at the Weld Boathouse

Photos by Justin Knight and Arthur Ferguson, respectively.

Singing. Music. Lights. Thousands came out to the riverbanks to lend their voices to the 5th annual RiverSing, hosted by the Conservancy in collaboration with Revels, celebrating the arrival of fall . . .

Click here to continue reading about RiverSing

Conservancy Cocktail

CRC donors and supporters who helped with the publication of River Stories attended a cocktail party and envisioning session for newly created civic space near the Zakim Bridge. Conservancy president Renata von Tscharner thanked EF Education First, the world’s largest private education company, and all who helped with River Stories in various ways for their generous support. CRC’s Special Projects Coordinator Nicole Brown presented thoughts for enlivening the New Basin, the Northpoint waterfront parklands created from industrial wasteland where the skatepark will be built.

Click here to see photos from the event held at EF, overlooking the New Basin and site of the future skatepark.

2008 Charles River Mile Swim Race

Join the Charles River Swimming Club and the Charles River Conservancy on the banks of the Boston Esplanade on Sunday June 15th for the Second Annual Charles River Mile Swim Race. Nancy Schön, creator of the “Make Way for Ducklings” statues, will lead the plunge.

Read about this year's swim race and see photos from the event.

See also photos from, and news about the first Charles River Mile Swim Race. See also history of swimming in the Charles.

CRC's "River Stories" Booklets Still Available

What does the Charles River mean to those who live, work, run, bike, row, commute, or play along it every day? The Conservancy has published a booklet of reflective essays--beautifully illustrated by watercolors of the river by local artists--on what the Charles River means to those who use and cherish the river and Parklands everyday. We are thankful to The Boston Globe for sponsoring "River Stories" and to Charles River Publishing, Inc. for working with us on this special edition.

If you would like a copy of this charming booklet, please send us $5.00 S & H with your mailing address. If you are a reading/writing teacher, let us know if you would like free copies for your classroom to inspire future writers of "River Stories." Please contact Leigh Donovon at ljd@thecharles.org for more information.

You can also download a free version [.pdf] of our published "River Stories" by clicking here. You can read other River Stories that have been sent to us over the years by clicking here.

Proposal to Clear Storrow Drive for Pedestrians, Cyclists, and Inline Skating Sunday Mornings

Following on the success of the 25 years of Sunday closings of Memorial Drive and the Hub on Wheels bicycle ride on Storrow Drive this past September, the CRC is proposing an expansion of weekend road closings to cars to take better advantage of the parklands as a place for active recreation. Research on the proposal is being done with the help of the $75,000 Out of the Blue grant from the Boston Foundation recently awarded to the Conservancy. Storrow Drive would be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Sundays, as to not coincide with the well-established Memorial Drive closings from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Cambridge.

Click the following links to read the front-page Boston Globe article and the following editorial.

We want to hear your feedback. Please click here to write a message of support or to comment. For more information about the proposal, click here.

Charles River Skatepark

Read more about the Charles River Skatepark

Help Revitalize the Parklands!

Help restore the beauty and vitality of the Charles River Parklands: Join our Volunteer Stewardship Program.

Since the program started in September 2002, over 8155 volunteers have helped. Everyone has done excellent work helping make the parklands a more active and attractive place.

See newest pictures of volunteer events in May through August (posted December 20, 2007).

Thank you to the many volunteers who participated in the 8th Annual Earth Day Cleanup!

Test your Water Quality IQ with our Water Quality Quiz.

Parklands Newsletter!

Our latest newsletter has arrived! Click on the highlighted link to download our Fall 2007 Parklands Newsletter (PDF version) ... Features include Busy Year for Charles River Skatepark, Make Storrow part of the cycle, Cruising Down the River for a Cause, and much more!

Charles River Boat Cruise

On August 30, the CRC brought together 60 members of environmental and nonprofit groups who share an interest in the Charles River — on a river cruise that gave each organization an opportunity to learn what the others are doing to benefit the Charles. See photos and a podcast of the cruise.

Celebrating
The Power Of The Parklands
A Smash Hit!

Over 250 members and supporters of the Charles River Conservancy heard Conservancy president Renata von Tscharner (left) and Harvard's David Gergen "celebrate the power of the Parklands" at the Conservancy's 5th anniversary celebration. Read more . . .

Inventing the Charles River
by Karl Haglund
published by The MIT Press
in collaboration with
the Charles River Conservancy

The Charles River looks to all appearances tranquil and unchanging, but nothing could be further from the truth. Learn more . . . buy the book.

Posters for sale

Our Parklands Map is now available in poster format through this website — only $30 including postage and handling. Learn more . . .

Our Guide to the
Charles River Parklands Masterplan

The Master Plan is a beautifully illustrated document that presents the history, current usage, and recommended improvements to restore the Charles River Parklands to the majesty of Charles Eliot's original vision. Our Guide to the Master Plan helps find specific information — including links to 30 key project areas along the river.

Tour the Charles

Looking for a new way to experience the Charles River parklands?

The Charles Riverboat Company offers a number of scheduled and chartered sightseeing tours of the lower Charles, offering an up-close view of parks, bridges, and neighborhoods along the river.

Find out more