Preotle, Lane & Associates, Tufts University, and Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. (Tri-CAP) are teaming up again to host the Second Annual Malden River Festival at the Park at River’s Edge on Saturday, September 17, 2011. Sunday September 18th is the rain date. Over 20 community organizations, including MyRWA, will also be participating.
Similar to last year, this free admission community event will feature live entertainment, food vendors, giveaways, art, family-fun activities, demonstration tables, and more. New this year will be art exhibits by artists from Malden, Medford, Everett, and the surrounding communities. The art exhibits will be from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, with the other activities and entertainment running from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Free parking will be available in the River’s Edge parking lot.
Last year’s event drew roughly 1,000 participants, and the event organizers hope to build on last year’s success, celebrating the Malden River, River’s Edge, and the area’s environmental potential for the Tri-Cities.
The Malden River begins at Spot Pond and Ell Pond in Melrose and flows south towards Malden. It is culverted (piped) underground from Winter Street to Charles Street in Malden, where it is often referred to as the Malden Canal. From there, the river flows approximately two miles through Malden, Medford, and Everett, until it meets the Mystic River near the Amelia Earhart Dam. The river’s long industrial history, urbanization, and aging municipal sewer systems have contributed to its current polluted state. However, on-going efforts, like those at River’s Edge and Tri-CAP’s Mystic River Watershed Environmental Justice Initiative, are underway to improve the Malden River as a community resource for the Tri-Cities.
The ten acre award-winning Park at River’s Edge is a public open space area that contains trails, beautiful river views, and over 8,000 plants, on a remediated brownfield site, developed by Preotle, Lane & Associates. The Tufts University crew boathouse is located in the park.
Those interested in attending and/or volunteering can contact Tri-CAP at ncohen@tri-cap.org or (781) 322-4125, but an RSVP is not required to attend.
Directions: The Park at River’s Edge is located on River’s Edge Drive (formerly Corporation Way) in Medford between Wellington T Station and Medford Street in Malden. Commercial Street in Malden becomes River’s Edge Drive in Medford. From Route 16 (either direction), take the Wellington T-Station Exit. From Route 16 East, stay to the right and go under the Route 16 overpass or from Route 16 West, follow the exit ramp to the intersection and make a right turn. This road is River’s Edge Drive. Go straight (away from Wellington) for approximately 0.5 miles. Turn right into the parking lot for River’s Edge. If you get to Medford Street, you have gone too far. The park is also a short walk up River’s Edge Drive from the Wellington T Station, by following the directions above on foot, or along the river via the Wellington Business Park.
