If you ran in our 2017 Herring Run and Paddle 5k race, volunteered with our Oriental Bittersweet Removal program or spent time in Macdonald Park this summer, perhaps you’ve wondered what is going on behind the fencing along the edge of the river. The piles of the dirt, heavy machinery and rebar will soon turn into a new riverfront amenity. The “River Overlook” – once a collection area for removed water chestnut – will feature a picnic area, boat launch and long seat wall with engravings of local animals.
Spearheaded by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, this project was made possible by a matching donation from Howard Wolk of Agero. Sidney Wolk, Howard’s father, founded Cross Country Motor Club in 1972 with his brother Ted and wife Deanna. The company moved to Medford in 1984 and became the leading provider of emergency roadside assistance in North America over the following several decades, helping millions of motorists annually. The company, renamed Agero in 2014, has been one of the leading employers in Medford and the surrounding communities ever since. Funds were provided in honor of Sidney and Deanna’s 80th and 75th birthdays, respectively.
Check out the progress over the summer (either on land or on the water by renting canoe or kayak at the new Paddle Boston location at Blessing of the Bay) and join us for a ribbon cutting later this fall to celebrate this new addition to the park!
