The Riverbend Park Trust

NEWS

The People for Riverbend Park Trust is the non-profit steward of the DCR parkland along Memorial Drive from Gerry's Landing Rd. to Western Ave. Check here for regular updates on the status of the park and ways you can support our work to enhance the riverfront landscape.

Our Competition for Images of the Riverscape and the Artists who won the Prizes

Inspired by the success of the art competition and exhibition held for our 40th, we

decided to try to do the same for the 50th. Again it was held by the Cambridge Art

Association but this time, due to a major change in their yearly schedule, it could not be organized as an independent show but as part of the Mary Schein Fall Salon.

Fran Amacher and Pat Sekler judged the art works and were very pleased that images appropriate to the two main awards had been submitted. The Isabella Halsted Prize of $250. was awarded to Linda Okun for “On the Banks of the Charles,” a very delicate watercolor/drawing of the wild vegetation typical of some sections of the riverbank,

with an egret amid the foliage. The Riverbend Park Prize of $150 went to

Cynthia W. Smith for a color photograph, “Sundays at Riverbend Park,” that in a

single image captured the majesty of the allée of plane trees as it sheltered a very

crowded roadway full of happy bikers, strollers, and pedestrians.

Due to their quality, the judges decided to award two Honorable Mention prizes of $100 each. One went to Carol Schweigert for her depiction of the Cambridge side of the river by Dunster House, seen from the far bank, “Summer on the Charles,” the other to Hildreth Potts for her ingenious sculpture, “Charles River Fox,” created from steel wool pads with cast facial features.

We are most grateful to the director, Candice Driver, and her assistant, Anna Fubini,

for making all this possible and for introducing the Trust and its activities to such a wide group of people, hundreds of whom were gathered for the presentation of the awards at the opening of the show held in the association’s Lowell Street Gallery on

September 13, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Special thanks go to all the artists who on such short notice created works pertaining to the riverscape.

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Thank you to those who attended one or both of the Charles River Task Force public hearings on 4/29 and 5/5. For those who were not able to attend, attached are the PowerPoint slides and a recording of the overview presentation is available here.

The Task Force's draft recommendations are also attached and comments on them can be submitted here through 5/29.

The Task Force is holding their next meeting on Wednesday 5/13 from 6:00-8:00pm at the Cambridge Public Library, Central Square Branch, Lewis Room, 45 Pearl St, Cambridge, MA 02139. This will be a hybrid meeting; please register for either in-person or virtual participation here. Following registration, you will receive further instructions via email.

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The Charles River Task Force on Equitable River Access is hosting one more public hearing to present their draft recommendations and solicit feedback. This last public hearing will be on Tuesday May 5, 2026 (virtual only) from 6:00-8:00pm. Registration is required to receive a Zoom link. Please note: This public hearing will be in the same format as the April 29 public hearing and you do not need to attend both.

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The Charles River Task Force on Equitable River Access will be hosting two public hearings to present their draft recommendations and solicit feedback:

Wednesday April 29, 2026 (in person only) at Morse Elementary School, 40 Granite St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Tuesday May 5, 2026 (virtual only)

The draft recommendations will be available on the Charles River Task Force webpage on April 23.

Please find attached an event flyer in English as well as versions in seven other languages: Amharic, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Cantonese, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, and Spanish. Interpretation for all seven of these languages, as well as American Sign Language (ASL), will be provided at both public hearings. Please spread the word about these public hearings through your networks as relevant.

For those unable to attend the public hearings, an online survey will be available beginning April 29 to gather feedback and will be open through May 29.

Please direct questions or feedback about the Task Force or how to provide public input to: charlesrivertaskforce@mass.gov.

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The Department of Conservation and Recreation has announced the seasonal return of Riverbend Park on Memorial Drive, with the roadway from Western Avenue to JFK Street closed to vehicle traffic on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning April 26 through November 8, weather permitting. The closure allows pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy the area, though the section from Gerrys Landing Road to JFK Street will remain closed to parkgoers in 2026 due to ongoing Phase 3 improvement construction. Intermittent Sunday closures may also occur in June and July during major events, with advance notice provided. Full Announcement

The next meeting of the Charles River Task Force on Equitable River Access will take place on Wednesday March 18th from 6:00-8:00pm at the Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138, Community Room. An agenda is attached and includes the items that Task Force members will discuss. Members of the public are welcome to observe. The meeting will be recorded.

This will be a hybrid meeting; please register for either in-person or virtual participation here. Following registration, you will receive further instructions via email 1 day before the meeting.

Interpreters will be present at the meeting for ASL, Amharic, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Cantonese, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Please view the Task Force webpage for background information and previous meeting information.

Best,

-Task Force organizers

DCR CHARLES RIVER TASK FORCE 2026 - SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING MEETINGS

The DCR’s Charles River Task Force, concerned with equitable access to the pleasure of being by the river and equitable opportunity for input and interchange with the DCR when new projects are forthcoming, has announced their upcoming meeting schedule.

The area concerned is the Cambridge side of the river from the Longfellow to the Eliot Bridges.

All of the following meetings will be held from 6 - 8 PM.

Some of these meetings will be “virtual” and some “in person.” Please try to follow them and take advantage of the opportunities to join in the commentary.

Task Force Meetings

# 8 March 18 fixed date, virtual and in person

The in person meeting site is not yet fixed.

DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle and Undersecretary Maria Belen Power will be leading the discussion.

# 9 April 6 tentative date

# 10 May 13 tentative date

# 11 June 17 tentative date

Public Hearings

# 3 April 28 or 29. tentative date, in person

# 4 May 4 or 5 tentative date, virtual

Comments on the Final EIR on Memorial Drive Phase III Improvements

In late May, the Trust submitted comments on the Final Environmental Impact Report that DCR shared in April. While we support of the project's overarching goals and the road diet, we are frustrated that DCR has not addressed many of the suggestions for further improving pedestrian safety, protecting the pastoral riverfront landscape and its capacity to withstand future flooding, and restoring the London Plane tree allée that have been expressed by the city staff and fellow advocates. A copy of our latest comments may be found here.

Rally at Riverbend, Saturday, April 29, 1:00 p.m.

Show your support for Saturday and Sunday road closings by attending a rally on Saturday, April 29. Meet at the Weeks Footbridge at 1:00 p.m. Speaking program starts at 1:30 p.m.

RSVP here: https://rallyatriverbend.eventbrite.com/

Sign Petition to Keep Saturdays on the Riverbend Park Schedule

If you would like DCR to reconsider its decision to cancel the Saturday road closures on Memorial Drive, please sign this petition. (The petition was started by Cambridge Bicycle Safety, not the Trust.)

DCR announces Sunday-Only Schedule for 2023, Starting April 30

DCR just announced that the Riverbend Park and Memorial Drive will open for recreation on Sunday, April 30, but that the Park schedule will not include Saturdays this season. The Park hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays through November 12, weather permitting.

This decision was made despite the City Council's 7-2 vote to continue the very popular Saturday closings of the past three seasons, the City Manager's support for the full weekend closings, and the outpouring of support from many hundreds of residents who signed a petition and emailed local and state officials. The Trust is disappointed that the state was unwilling to consider suggestions for changes to signal timing and lane markings that could have mitigated the impact of the traffic detours on the Riverside neighborhood. There are significant public health benefits in eliminating traffic along the river to create additional open space and in making the riverfront more accessible and pleasant for thousands of Park visitors. We urge our supporters to let state officials know they would like DCR to partner with city staff to make Saturday closings successful for everyone. You can leave a message for DCR's community engagement team by calling 617-626-2350 ext 3.

Support Road Closings on both Saturdays and Sundays for 2023 Season

A policy order on the February 13 City Council agenda asks the city to confer with DCR and other agencies to ensure the continuation of road closings on Memorial Drive on both Saturdays and Sundays starting in late April and running through late fall in 2023. The order asks for outreach to affected neighborhoods and steps to mitigate traffic. impacts. Full text of the order.

To express support for the order please email council@cambridgema.gov or sign up to speak in person or virtually during public comment at the Feb. 13 meeting.

Riverbend Trust's Comments on EIR for Memorial Drive Phase III Improvements (1/6/23)

The Trust submitted detailed comments on the Environmental Impact Report filed for the Memorial Drive Phase III Improvements. While we are generally supportive of the road diet, we think that the design could be improved by more fully separating pathways used by pedestrians and cyclists and reducing the speed limit to 25 mph. We also think the sycamore allée must be fully restored by filling gaps and the pastoral qualities of the shoreline preserved by limiting the extent of regrading. The comments may be viewed here.

Final Two Saturdays Cancelled; Park Remains Closed to Cars on Sunday 12/11 & 12/18

Schedule Update (as of 12/9): On Saturday, December 10, 2022, and Saturday, December 17, 2022, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will keep Memorial Drive open (close Riverbend Park) to vehicular traffic from Western Avenue to Gerry’s Landing in the City of Cambridge at the request of the City Administration. However, Riverbend Park will open to pedestrian and cyclist use (close Memorial Drive to traffic) on both Sunday, December 11, 2022, and Sunday, December 18, 2022, from 7:00AM to dusk.

The 2022 season will conclude on Sunday, December 18, and we will await word on the start of the 2023 season and the weekend schedule hours and schedule.

Full Weekend Park Opening to run through Sun. 12/18

DCR announced that Riverbend Park hours will continue on both Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, December 18, 2022. Memorial Drive will close to cars on Saturdays at 7 am and remain closed until dusk on Sundays. Enjoy the bonus month of park use!!

Re-Scheduled In-Person Meeting in Saturday Road Closings, Thurs., 10/6, 6:30-8:00pm

DCR and the City have announced a new date for an in-person meeting to continue the discussion on Saturday road closings. The meeting will be held on Thursday, 10/6 from 6:30 to 8:00pm in the MLK School auditorium (enter at 72 Magee St). The Trust strongly supports keeping Memorial Drive open to people for recreational use on both weekend days.

Meeting details.

RESCHEDULED Pizza Picnic by the River on Thurs., 10/6 at 5:30pm

Given the rain on Sat., 10/1, the pizza picnic will be held instead on Thurs., 10/6 at 5:30pm. Join the Memorial Drive Alliance for an informal pizza social before the in-person meeting on 10/6 about the continuation of Saturday park days. We will gather in the grassy area to the west of the Weeks Footbridge opposite Plympton and DeWolfe Streets near Harvard Sq. We’ll also be distributing bike lights courtesy of MassBikes Lights Brigade.

Family Play Streets Event on Memorial Drive on Sat., 9/24, 2-6pm

The Cambridge Community Development Department will host a Play Street on Memorial Drive next to the Weeks Footbridge this Saturday 9/24 from 2-6pm in the Riverside neighborhood. Play Streets provide a safe space and play materials for children to play freely and are an opportunity to meet neighbors in our outdoor open spaces. Knucklebones will be leading play activities. Please join us anytime between 2-6pm along Memorial Drive, and enjoy the open space together as the road is closed to car traffic over the weekend.

Community Meetings on Saturday Park Schedule (9/13 & 9/14)

Currently, Memorial Drive is closed to vehicle traffic from Gerry’s Landing Road to Western Avenue, from Saturday at 8 a.m. to Sunday at 7 p.m. to allow pedestrians, cyclists, and others to enjoy the riverfront roadway without cars. The City of Cambridge and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will be seeking input from Cambridge residents on the overnight and Saturday closures of Memorial Drive at two upcoming meetings:

CANCELED DUE TO RAIN Tuesday, September 13, 6 p.m. -7:30 p.m., Riverside Press Park, (River Street and Memorial Drive). In-person community meeting. Learn more.
Wednesday, September 14, 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Virtual community meeting. Learn more.

The Saturday road closings attract hundreds of people of all ages to the park and benefit people from all neighborhoods and from outside Cambridge. It is important that the decision makers hear from people who enjoy using the park on the weekends so that the Saturday closings will continue.

Please attend one or both of the meetings and send your comments to council@cambridgema.gov.