The Jamaica Pond Association (JPA) held its monthly virtual meeting on March 7, and consisted of reports from committees, as well as a presentation from Jen Mergel of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and general discussion.
Kevin Moloney of the JPA Zoning Committee reported that upcoming matters for the committee include a request for a variance at 561-579 Centre St. for a change of use for Pondside Pet Care, as well as a “likely sale of all or a part of Hellenic Hill” and the request by the Monastery of Saint Clare to raze the monastery on Centre St.
Jamie Maguire of the Parks, Parkways, and Open Spaces Committee talked about Frederick Law Olmsted’s bicentennial celebration, which will take place this year.
Jen Mergel, Director of Experience and Cultural Partnerships for the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, came to the JPA to speak about the “Parks at Platform” project that I part of the bicentennial.
Boston’s bicentennial celebration is called Olmsted Now, and according to a slide presented, “…the Emerald Necklace Conservancy will expand its annual Summer on the Emerald Necklace series into a shared resource for Bicentennial partners to animate the Necklace parks with community-generated events—Parks as Platform.”
The slide continues, “Each month, the Conservancy will focus on a site along the Emerald Necklace to anchor programming with extra support: securing permits, signage, power, potable water, food trucks, trash pick-up, portable restroom rentals and more. The monthly site will be the nexus for cross neighborhood collaboration and appreciation of a diverse roster of offerings using the parks as platform.”
Mergel also discussed the “Committee of Neighborhoods,” which she said will be instrumental in making :some decisions about how some bicentennial programming will be funded.”
The Parks as Platform would take place at different sites on the Emerald Necklace from April to October.
On August 20, an event has been proposed for Jamaica Pond, which could potentially overlap with JP Porchfest, Mergel said.
“We’re trying to learn about what support there is for an event like this to happen along Jamaica Pond, she said, and “trying to coordinate what will already be happening.”
Several people had other suggestions for events, such as opening the road to pedestrians and cyclists, as has been done in the past with Francis Parkman Dr., as well as a kite day and theater in the park.
Any suggestions, comments, questions, or concerns on this can be directed to Jen Mergel at [email protected].