^ ^MHOr^i'. US \J\l\<>y. ..a^ |312Dbt. 0271 27SS i Guide '' ^'A User's to the I Charles River Basin 1996 Season Welcome to the Charles River Basin, a nine mile stretch ofaccessible river with endless recreational opportunities. Whether your interest is canoeing or ice skating,baseballorin-lineskating,theCharlesRiverisabeautifulresourceforyou. Since 1893, the Metropolitan District Commission has preserved the region's unique land- scapes by acquiring and protecting park lands, river corridors and coastal areas; reclaimingandrestoringabusedandneglectedsites,andsettingasideareasofgreatscenic beauty for the recreation and health of the region*s residents. The New Charles River We Basin is one ofourmostprized possessions. invite you toexplore and enjoy all that it has to offer. liiLllJlii '' '^^^ A I nLc: I iLr ricLUo ^"wi'iiiipp * - , .,'-f^'^f'^ Permits are required for all activities f\f J vwl -^^r]; . : =tj^f^ unless otherwise noted. Please *,,.^^ -j.^.-^..-- address all requests in writing to MDC Recreation Division, 20 Somerset Street, Boston, MA 02108 (617)727-9547 mi Lederman Field !i!'|ift:^'i?i''* Charles Street, Boston Baseball, football, Softball Daly Recreation Center Nonantum Road, Brighton Football, Softball (lighted) Magazine Beach Field BIKE/RUNNING PATHS Memorial Drive, Cambridge We Football, Little League, Softball encourage all users of the Charles River paths to be courteous PAR COURSES to all other users. Please watch for Eight station exercise area traffic and do not block paths. Cambridge upstream of BU Bridge Wheel traffic should pay particular & Boston downstream of BU Bridge attention to signage and keep speeds slow In congested areas. Dr. Paul Dudley White Bike Path 17.1 mile loop from Science Park to Waterlown Square Riverbend Park Memorial Drive from Eliot Bridge to Western Ave, Closed to vehicular traffic Sundays 11:00a.m. to 7:00 p.m.(last Sunday in April to 2nd Sunday in November. BOATING MIT Memorial Drive upstream of the BOAT TOURS Mass. Ave. Bridge Charles River Boat Company (617)253-1698. Summer program. Sculling only, for Cambridgeside Galleria beginners and experienced rowers. (617)621-3001 Season April to May - weekends; Northeastern University June to September - 7 days Regular sightseeing tours noon to Herter Park off Soldiers Field Road (617)782-1933 5:00 p.m. leaving on the hour, Summer programs for ages 15 and charters available. up. Boston Duck Tours Sweeps program for beginners and Departs from the front of New intermediate rowers. England Aquarium, Long Wharf, Boston University (617)723-DUCK Season April to November, seven Memorial Drive just downstream of days a week. the BU Bridge (617) 353-2748 or 353-5796 Fully narrated tour of Boston and lower Charles River Basin in Summer program for ages 1 1 and authentic WWII amphibious vehicle. up. Sweep and sculling programs for youth and adults. CANOEING Master Row Charles River Canoe and Kayak MIT's Pierce Boathouse, Memorial Center Drive upstream of the Mass. Ave. Kiosk at Artesani Park off Soldiers Bridge, 787-1177 Field Road (617)965-5110 Three intensive weekend programs Season May to October. Weekends for competitive level masters age Spring and Fall, hours extended for 27+. Men's and women's collegiate summer. Youths under 18 must be coxswains. Call for dates. accompanied by an adult. Master Women's Rowing Camp ROWING Weld Boathouse, Memorial Drive, Programs are offered for sweeps (1 Cambridge next to Anderson Bridge, oar each rower) and sculling (2 oars 661-0776 each rower). 1 week camp (call for dates) Intensive rowing camp for Master's Community Rowing, Inc. Women (age 27 and up) of all At Daly Rink, Nonantum Road, abilities, for both sweeps and sculls. Brighton/Newton (617)782-9091 Season April to October for ages 12 and up. Beginner to competitive programs for youth, adult and adaptive rowers. Both sculling and sweeps offered. Radcliffe Rowing Day Camp for some exciting battles. At one Weld Boathouse, Memorial Drive, time, winners were crowned "King" or Cambridge next to Anderson Bridge, "Head" of the race, hence the name. 495-9249 Call for dates. Regatta Watching Tips One week camp for girls age 15-18, •Coxswain (Pronounced cox'n) for beginner and experienced sweep The person who steers the boat and rowers and coxswain's Includes calls the race, they are the eyes and some sculling. the ears of the rowers. In boats without coxswain, the person rowing ROWING REGATTAS bow in steers. Sprint races are held during •Boat Configurations spring and summer. Boats race Rowers race sweeps (1 oar each each other, 5 boats across or rower) In eights, fours and pairs, however many lanes the river can sometimes with a coxswain, some- accommodate. Races usually range times without, and sculls (two oars from 1000-2000 meters (shorter each rower) in singles, doubles, races are often called dashes) and quads and the very occasional heats are common. octuple. Scullers rarely have a Head races are distance races coxswain. and are held in the fall. Boats race •Boat Classifications the clock leaving the starting line Races are classified by weight, age, 10-15 seconds apart but faster boats sex, and ability. Open races are often overtake slower ones making non-restricted. fiWatertown Arsenal St. Bridge MDC Charles River Pathway Distances MDC Riverside Sprints Cromwell Cup Riverside Boat Club Riverside Boat Club Memorial Drive between the BU and Memorial Drive between the BU and River Street Bridges (617)492-1869 River Street Bridges (617) 492-1869 May (call for date) Call for June date. 1000 meters 1000 meters from Weeks Footbridge from the Weeks Footbridge to to Riverside Boat Club, sculling and Riverside Boat Club, sculling and sweep events for youth and adult sweep events for youth and adult competitors. competitors. Youth Invitational Regatta In Lilies Community Rowing, Inc. Community Rowing Daly Rink, Nonantum Road, Brighton Daly Rink, Nonantum Road, Brighton (617)782-9091 (617)782-9091 Call for June date. Call for August date. Upstream of Newton Yacht Club to 750 meters from upstream of boat ramp at Daly Field. Newton Yacht Club to boat ramp at Daly Field. The world's largest Commissioner's Cup costume regatta. Sculling and Union Boat Club behind the Hatch sweep events for youth, adults and Shell on the Esplanade. July date to adaptive rowers, all in costume. be announced. Traditional stake This is truly a spectator sport. boat race (triangular course), start and finish near the Hatch Shell. Anderson Bridge 'Science Weeks Footbridge Vestern .ve. ridge Prepared by: G.Hazelton 4/96 . Head of the Class Youth Regatta Boston University Community Rowing Summer Recreational Sailing and Daly Rink, Nonantum Road, Brighton Sailing Classes (617)353-2748 (617)782-9091 Storrow Drive just downstream of BU Call for October dates. Bridge. Season begins May 31 Abbreviated course, 1 .5 miles from the Northeastern Boathouse to SAILING REGATTAS Newton Yacht Club. Sailing Races are usually held on a triangular course. For three minutes Head of the Charles Regatta before the start, boats jockey for Cambridge Boat Club position trying to cross the line Third Sunday in October exactly as the whistle blows. Boats Three miles from the BU Boathouse who foul other boats perfomn a 720° to Herter Park. The largest single- (2 circles) to exonerate themselves. day rowing event in the world. For All other fouls are settled in a protest best viewing, take the Red Line to meeting after the race. Harvard Square. Kids Sail the Stars Collegiate Series Community Boating, (617)523-1038 Sunday mornings starting in April Charies River between Longfellow held between the Longfellow and BU and Mass. Ave. Bridges. This event Bridges pairs kids from the CBi Youth Program with local and national SAILING celebrities. The catch is that the kids Community Boating skipper the boat! Lots of fun and Esplanade between the Hatch Shell BBQ to follow. Call for August date. and Longfellow Bridge (617)523-1038 Single Handed Regatta Season April 1 to October 31 Community Boating, (617) 523-1038 Lessons for youth and adults, September date to be announced. beginner and advanced sailors in a Lower Basin, between Longfellow variety of boats, kids sail all summer and Mass. Ave. Bridges. Single- for only $1 .00! handed regatta in Cape Cod Mercury's with 1 or 2 sail rig. Call for September date. •Community Boating also offers racing throughout the season. This includes formal and infomnal races for youth and adults, windsurfing and Lasers. •The other sailing centers on the Charies River host many collegiate regattas in Spring and Fall. 2 PUBLIC & PRIVATE CLUBS PUBLIC BOAT MOORING Schools (seasonal permit) Belmont Hill Land Boulevard, downstream from Boston University Longfellow Bridge, 70 slots on a Crew and Sailing first-come, first-served basis. Notice Buckingham, Brown & Nichols of availability is publicized in the Harvard University newspapers in March, you must Newell Boathouse have your own anchor line and Weld Boathouse mooring ball. Sailing Pavilion MIT Sailing Pavilion PUBLIC BOAT and Pierce Boathouse LAUNCHING RAMP Northeastern University Daly Recreational Center, Private Clubs Nonantum Road, Brighton. Cambridge Boat Club Charies Gate Yacht Club PUBLIC LANDINGS Charles River Yacht Club Clarendon Street, Back Bay Newton Yacht Club Hatch Shell, Embankment Road Riverside Boat Club Pinckney Street, Back Bay Union Boat Club Brooks Street at Nonantum Road, Watertown Yacht Club Brighton ArtesanI Playground off Soldiers Public Access Facilities Field Road, Brighton Community Boating Charles River Dam at the Museum Community Rowing of Science Charles River Canoe & Kayak Watertown Square, Charles River Road. COMMUNITY CONTACTS Charies River Watershed Associa- tion (617) 527-2799 COMMUNITY GARDEN Herter Center off Soldiers Field Road, Department of Food and Agriculture (508) 792-771 CONCERTS/ SWIMMING POOLS PERFORMANCES Pools are open from late June to Hatch Memorial Shell early September. Call 727-4708 for more Esplanade between the Mass. Ave. info. and Longfellow Bridges. Season •Lee Memorial Pool starts June 19 and ends in October. Charles Street, Boston Events are scheduled Wednesday (also a spray pool) through Sunday and admission is •Brighton/Allston Pool North Beacon Street free. •Spray Pool at Artesani Playground Publick Theater Herter Park off Soldiers Field Road. Soldiers Field Road, Brighton (617)782-5425 •Dealtry Memorial Pool Season starts June 1 and ends Pleasant Street, Watertown September 4, all performances are Wednesday through Sunday at 8:00 SKATING RINK p.m. Admission varies. Rinks are open from mid-November to mid-March. PLAYGROUNDS Call 727-9547 for more information •Boston-Back Bay at Berkeley Street, or permit information •Daly Memorial Rink Deerfield Street, Hereford Street, Pinckney Street, Union Boat House, Nonantum Road, Brighton and Charlesbank Park Concession stand, skate rentals, •Brighton-Artesani Park off Soldiers sharpening and lessons. Field Road •Cambridge-Magazine Beach, The Charles River community is a Memorial Drive, Murphy's Tot Lot, cooperative one. Private boat and Greenough Boulevard yacht clubs are required to demon- •Watertown-Charles River Road strate commitment to public access. Some provide programs or events for PICNIC AREA non-profit groups, others donate to Herter Park off Soldiers Field Road, the public programs on the river. Brighton. Pemnits are required for groups of 25 or more. See Athletic If you need more information about any of the facilities, clubs or events Fields listing for permit information. MDC on the river, please contact the TENNIS COURTS Community Affairs Office at (617)727-5114x530. All tennis courts operate on a first- come, first-sen/ed basis. •Charlesbank Park, Charles Street, Boston (4 lighted) Commonwealth ofMassachusetts • Metropolitan District Commission William F. Weld, Governor • A. Paul Cellucci, Lt. Governor Trudy Coxe, Secretary, EOEA • David B. Balfour, Jr., Commissioner