October 17, 2021
To: Newton City Council, Mayor Fuller
From: Friends of Crystal Lake
We have learned that there have been modifications to the Parks Plan for
Levingston Cove at the fishing area based on a memo to Commissioner Banks and
the City Council by the co-presidents of Crystal Lake Conservancy. It is clear from
reading this memo that the plan for the fishing area still does not address the
conceptual issues raised over the past two-and-a-half years. These include: The out-
of-character nature of the design, the environmental risk associated with extensive
pilings and other aspects of the hardscape, the questionable changes to the user
experience it may create for most people, the best approach to greater accessibility
for our setting and the cost compared to designs that are ADA compliant and don’t
have these problems. This plan actually removes one of two existing benches at the
fishing area. For $1,500,000-$2,000,000, one would think we could get a few more
benches at the most popular sight seeing area in Newton!
The process by which this plan has proceeded is flawed. There was opposition by
FOCL expressed within the Crystal Lake Working Group, along the lines described
above, from the beginning in Spring 2018. Despite this opposition, the Working
Group finalized the design concept in March, 2019. Again, despite considerable
opposition within a crowd of about 50, the Parks Commission approved the design
concept in April, 2019. There have been no Working Group meetings on the
Levingston plan since that time (March, 2019, 2 ½ years) despite numerous
requests to resume and persistent continued opposition to the design concept for
the fishing area.
We regret having to recently Appeal this plan to DEP, but we were left with no
choice as our voiced concerns have been ignored. Levingston Cove has historically
been designated as open space for passive recreation and it seems to have been
evaluated by a lower conservation standard for this project.
Please also consider the following in response to recent issues raised:
- This project is important because Crystal Lake is Newton’s most special natural
resource. It is one of Newton’s most popular walking routes, close to several lively
town centers, and offers lovely views and an uplifting sense of connecting with
nature and friends. These aspects exist for all from just going on City streets around
the lake. - Accessibility improvements and ADA compliance, which we all know are critical,
may be achieved along with conservation and historic preservation. This plan falls
short of that standard. - The erosion of Levingston Cove has been ongoing for years. A few months of
delay to arrive at a plan that most people in Newton would find very nice, cost
effective and sustainable, is well worth the delay. Further delay will not be
catastrophic. - We have a Parks Department that has worked extremely hard on something they
desperately want to see through, but they are working with a plan that has features
that are conceptually flawed. We sincerely regret this situation. But, further
scrutiny and changes should result in a better plan, considerable overall cost
savings and a more cohesive engaged community. - The technical modifications made by the Parks Department and co-presidents of
CLC do not address the substantive conceptual issues raised by many members of
the community in a myriad of emails, messages and pro-forma meetings which
followed this conceptually flawed plan.
We urge you to send this project back to a short-term Task Force where, with the
cooperation of the Parks Department, we may more objectively come up with a plan
that better meets the needs of Newton residents as a whole, including of course
those with disabilities, and those that live in the Crystal Lake neighborhood.
Sincerely,
Sonya Kurzweil, Ph.D., President FOCL
Atilla Habip, Vice President, FOCL
Ray Kurzweil, Secretary, FOCL
Bob Beal, Treasurer, FOCL
Karen Ayas, Ph.D., Board member FOCL
Simon French, member FOCL
Susan Gershenfeld, Ph.D., member FOCL
Joel Gershenfeld, Ph.D., member FOCL
Robert Fizek, Board member CLC
Jean Artin, Board member CLC
Barbara Wales, Board member CLC