Dear Friends of Hemlock Gorge:
Dear Friends of Hemlock Gorge:
Some of those visitors have visited our website,
signed on to become members, and contributed to our treasury. The Friends’
leadership wants to give credit to you, our members, whose efforts
have made the park such an important part of our local environment. Here is the
list of those efforts:
In 2020 we had two very successful clean-ups
in the reservation in April and October. They have helped keep the park in
pristine condition and make it attractive for all many visitors.
Under the leadership of Lee Fisher, working with
State Rep. Ruth Balser, the Hemlock Gorge DCR signs at both the northern and
southern entrances to the park were replaced with new signs adding Echo
Bridge to the signs. This should increase public awareness of this hidden gem in
the reservation.
The Ellis Street Stairway that leads up
to Echo Bridge has undergone some temporary ‘old age’ repairs, thanks in large
measure to the efforts of the Friends. The owners of the stairs, the Department
of Conservation and Recreation, has conducted an assessment of the stairs and a
report to Rep. Balser is expected soon. Again, see our website for details.
The Ellis Street Parking Lot, created
only a few years ago through the efforts of the Friends, has this year been
added to the City of Newton Parks and Recreation maintenance schedule. We want
to acknowledge the efforts of Philip Arpino and Maria P. Rose of the City of
Newton for their efforts to maintain the lot. The City has also made efforts to
remove graffiti on the Echo Bridge platform, thanks also to the efforts of
Friends members Jerry Reilly and Emily Gelbert. We also want to thank Erica and
City Councilors Bill Humphrey and Andreae Downs for their support of our
efforts.
The Friends have submitted a proposal for new
crosswalks to Rep. Balser to improve safety for pedestrians walking between
Hemlock Gorge and the Quinobequin Trail at the intersection of Quinobequin Road
and Ellis Street. A joint meeting of representatives of the Department of
Transportation, the DCR, and the City of Newton organized by Rep. in November
has green lighted the project.
There have been disappointments. Our Letter of
Intent to the DCR to apply for Public-Private Partnership funding to improve the
interior of the newly repaired Stone Building was rejected (details at our
website). Despite this setback, we have been making progress. Thanks to Erica,
the DCR is going to repair the second floor of the Stone Building. New
lumber is already on site. Also, at the fall clean-up Evan Weststrate replaced
two missing screens on windows at the Stone Building. With these fixes in place,
we plan to install new flooring and make the Stone Building our location
for future picnics and warm weather meetings, and perhaps to make it a real
Visitor Center on weekends. Rep. Balser is also working to secure state funding
to support these efforts.
Next year the Friends of Hemlock Gorge will
continue our annual activities, maintain our partnership with the DCR and others
and support new projects to preserve and enhance Hemlock Gorge. Major goals for
2021 that need your support include:
To do this and more, we need your help to build
on our success.
If you have not
already done so by check or at our website, please to click
here
to provide
us with your financial support for 2021 by PayPal,
You can also mail your contribution to our P.O.
Box 62, Waban MA 02468.
Thank you for all you
have done for Hemlock Gorge Reservation in 2020 and for all you will help the
Friends do in 2021. We look forward to seeing you at our monthly meetings and
other events.
John Mordes, MD
Evan Weststrate
President
Vice-President
This page last modified December 8, 2020