Mary Cummings Park“forever open”

● What is it?● Why it is important.● What are people doing?● What can we do?

Mary Cummings Park

● 198.3 acres.● Also 3 non-contiguous areas 1 in Burlington

and 2 in Woburn. (11.9, 1.97 and 4.35 acres respectively)

● Held in trust by the City of Boston as a “public pleasure ground”

● Maintenance Trust Fund at $470,000 as of 2004

Lets get the legal out of the way

● Mary Cummings gave this land to the City of Boston under the condition that it be “kept forever open as a public pleasure ground” In her letter she referred to it as a “recreational park”

What would they need to do to make it something else?

● The Middlesex Probate Court would need to approve a Cy Pres.

● The Attorney General would need to support it.

And what else?

● Article 97 of the State Constitution requires a 2/3 vote of the State legislature to change the use as a public park or playground or to sell or transfer it.

Are all these scenarios possible?Are they likely?

So what can we do without special permission?

● Walk ● Run● Enjoy observing wildlife ● Keep the park clean● Keep the trails groomed● Other so called “passive” recreation

Other Historic uses

● Day Camps (YMCA, Kamp for Kidz)● Public Gardens ● RC Flyers● Horseback riding● others?

What is good

● Over 3 miles of trails● Mixed terrain● Woods ● Fields● Wetlands● Places for both “Prospect and refuge”

What could use a little help

What can we do?

● Get together for trash pick ups, WREN has already done a few.

● Decide which trails people want to use and which ones can be left to grow back

● Fix the ruts left by the ATVs● Help promote the park● Keep talking... emails, online messageboard,

newsletter?

Isn't so called “passive” recreation by its nature supposed to be

unorganized?

Our parks need friends

● The Friends of the Blue Hills● The Friends of Lynn Woods● Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation● Newton Conservators (Cutler Park and all of

Newton's parks)● The Friends of Breakheart Reservation● The Friends of the Arnold Arboretum● The Friends of the Public Garden● WREN of course!

Who's else civic responsibility is it?

Or maybe just who's responsibility is this Civic?

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the

difference.

-Robert Frost