Several organizations are joining together for the seventh consecutive year to coordinate numerous events for Earth Day in the Mystic River Watershed in Arlington, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Somerville and Winchester. Comprising “Mystic Community Earth Day,” events will take place on Saturday, April 23rd, April 30th, and May 7th in honor of Earth Day (April 22nd) and focus on improving areas along the Mystic River, Aberjona River and Chelsea Creek, while drawing attention to the needs of the watershed as a whole. All events are free and open to the public. Volunteers needed!
The Mystic River Watershed is the most urbanized, densely populated watershed in Massachusetts, with over half a million people living in its 76 square miles. Due to its long industrial history and aging sewer systems, the water quality of the river is severely degraded and access to the riverfront is limited. Despite these challenges, residents, community groups, and organizations are working to improve the Mystic River, its tributaries, and surrounding communities.
This year marks the 46th Earth Day, which was first hosted on April 22, 1970, and featured rallies, protests, and cleanups across the country with a strong college student presence. That day is often considered the birth of the modern environmental movement. Earth Day 2016 will be observed nationwide on April 22nd and marked by many of the same activities as the original event 46 years ago.
Mystic Community Earth Day will include river and park cleanups, plantings, and trail clearings. For more information about any of the Mystic Community Earth Day events, please contact the respective coordinator from each organization (see below). Events include the following:
Arlington/Cambridge
Friends of Alewife Reservation invites you to our annual Earth Day/DCR Park Serve Day at the Alewife Reservation in Cambridge, MA. Students, companies, families, and individuals are all welcome to join on April 30th from 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers will work together to remove trash from the Reservation, maintain trails and improve the health of the ecosystem in this flood-plain region. All tools and supplies as well as water will be provided. Volunteers should meet across the street from the Alewife MBTA station pickup area.
Contact: friendsofalewifereservation.org, (617)-415-1884, or info@friendsofalewifereservation.org
Chelsea
The Chelsea Collaborative is holding their annual Chelsea Earth Day Celebration: Clean Up! on Saturday, April 23rd from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Volunteers should meet at Chelsea City Hall Parking Lot, 500 Broadway, Chelsea, MA.
Contact: chelseacollab.org or Maria Belén Power at MariaBelenP@ChelseaCollab.org or 617-889-6080 X115
Everett/Malden
Bike to the Sea, Inc. and Friends of the Malden River are partnering with the Cities of Malden and Everett for an Earth Day Cleanup. Volunteers will cut back brush along the trail, remove branches, pick up trash, sweep off the trail and generally clean up the paved section of trail from its start in Everett to the Revere town line. We will gather at the map kiosk across from Cambridge Health Alliance at 195 Canal Street then spread out along the bike trail. Join us on Saturday, April 23rd from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Contact: Karen at friendsofthemaldenriver@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/events/1700231316926718/
Medford
Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) will host a river and park cleanup to celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 30th from 9:00 a.m. to noon. We will be removing litter and invasive plants, and a community art project - Hermione the Trash Herring – will be part of the mix. Volunteers should meet at the DCR Torbert MacDonald Park parking lot off of Mystic Valley Parkway/Route 16 in Medford. The event is also accessible by the MBTA Wellington Station on the Orange Line. All supplies will be provided. Rain or shine.
Contact: Beth at beth@mysticriver.org or 781-316-3438
Friends of the Mystic River will host its 21st annual Mystic River Spring Cleanup on Saturday, May 7th, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., meeting at the Condon Band Shell parking lot, 2501 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford. Volunteers are invited to collect trash and debris in the Condon Shell Park/Route 16 area, or at any other location of their choosing between the Lower Mystic Lake and Torbert MacDonald Park. Cleanup supplies will be provided along with morning and lunchtime refreshments. In the event of heavy rain on May 7th, the cleanup will take place on Sunday, May 8th.
Contact: fomr.org, 781-391-2604 or Mystic02155@hotmail.com
Medford Community Coalition (MCC) is hosting a cleanup of Medford Square on Saturday, April 30th from 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon. Volunteers will meet at the Burying Ground Plaza, at the corner of Salem & River Street, and split into teams to give the square a good cleaning. DPW will provide bags and tools, and we'll get right into picking up trash and making the Square as beautiful as it can be.
Contact: Laura at medfordcoalition@gmail.com
Friends of the Fellsand Mass DCR are hosting a cleanup, trail restoration and invasive plant removal on Saturday, April 30th. Meet at Flynn Rink (300 Elm Street, Medford, at corner of Woodland Road) between 9:00 and 11:00 am to register and arrange your work assignment. Please bring water, snacks, sunscreen and/or bug spray to suit your needs. Any required tools will be provided. Lightning cancels, otherwise please dress for the weather.
Contact: Lindsay at 413-237-4747 or email lindsay@yarsley.com
Somerville
Groundwork Somerville is hosting Comcast Cares Day with the City of Somerville on Saturday, April 30th from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, and 11 other sites around the City including South Street Farm, the Community Path and Union Square. See the full list of locations at www.groundworksomerville.org/programs/sustainable-community/earth-day-comcast-cares/. Pick a site and come out to get ready for spring! Events will be followed by a BBQ at 12:00 p.m. at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse on Shore Drive.
Contact: Chris Mancini, chris@groundworksomerville.org
Winchester
The Winchester Conservation Commission is sponsoring its annual Aberjona River Cleanup on Saturday, May 7th from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Volunteers should meet at Town Hall Parking Lot, 71 Mt. Vernon Street, Winchester. Plastic bags and gloves will be provided. Please come with clothing to cover your feet and arms.
Contact: Elaine Vreeland at (781) 721-7152 or Evreeland@winchester.us
