The state Department of Conservation and Recreation received’t be closing a portion of Memorial Drive in Cambridge for pedestrians and cyclists on Saturdays this yr, to the frustration of many metropolis officers and residents.
Instead, residents and people visiting the town will likely be allowed to walk alongside the prolonged Riverbend Park, subsequent to the Charles River, on simply Sundays, as had been the norm earlier than the weekend closures emerged throughout the pandemic.
The DCR on Monday rolled out the up to date visitors advisory, which is able to shut the 1.5-mile phase of Memorial Drive to vehicular visitors on Sundays starting April 30 and persevering with by way of Nov. 12.
State Rep. Michael Connolly, D-Cambridge, referred to as the choice “really discouraging” after he stated he advocated for the Healey administration to keep up the weekend closures.
“There are issues that we as a state have to deal with, like the MBTA, that are extremely difficult and are going to take a long time to make right whereas here is a very popular program that brings joy and healthy benefits … and you’re cutting this back. This is an unforced error,” Connolly informed the Herald on Tuesday.
As the state’s COVID-19 public well being emergency is ready to finish in May, the DCR is returning to the Riverbend Park schedule established by statute, company spokesperson Ilyse Wolberg stated in an announcement.
Riverbend Park is the ultimate remaining DCR parkland to return to its pre-COVID-19 schedule.
“While this effort was a success in expanding access to outdoor recreation, it was not without its negative impacts,” Wolberg stated, “including concerns about elevated traffic and pollution in surrounding residential neighborhoods, some of which are classified as environmental justice communities.”
Continuing the two-day closure obtained assist from the City Council, which voted 7-2 in February for the town supervisor to work with acceptable companies to mitigate any traffic-related impacts, with a deal with enhancing visitors alerts and lane markings.
A metropolis report final yr that 94% of Riverside residents used their neighborhood park’s open area, whereas 10% of residents indicated unacceptable visitors.
“It is really beloved,” City Councilor Burhan Azeem informed the Herald. “I couldn’t think of a singular city policy that is more popular than these weekend closures.”
With Memorial Drive being a state highway, there isn’t a lot the town can do to treatment the scenario, Connolly stated, including he desires to see his state colleagues arise and advocate for prolonged leisure alternatives within the space.
State Rep. Marjorie Decker, whose district contains Riverbend Park, couldn’t be instantly reached for remark Tuesday.
“There’s apparently some behind-the-scenes disagreements on this,” Connolly stated. “That’s really unfortunate because in public when we have conversations and debates about this, we’ve seen a lot of support from our City Council.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”