By Gazette Staff
The Jamaica Pond Association (JPA) held its annual meeting at historic Loring Greenough House this past Monday evening.
A crowd of 35 attendees, both JPA members and neighbors, welcomed guest speaker Professor Ned Friedman, the Director of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.
Prof. Friedman gave a wide-ranging and engaging talk regarding the history and purpose of the Arboretum, as well as its role in present-day efforts to protect the Arboretum from abutting development that, if successful, could serve as a warning for future development of properties along Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace.
Prof. Fiedman lists in his bio two fundamental priorities that dominate the Arboretum’s current focus: Environmental justice and combating human-induced global climate change and extinction. In a slide show, Prof. Friedman displayed major projects that are being undertaken at the Arboretum in support of these priorities.
Following Prof. Friedman’s talk, the JPA held an election, welcoming a slate of neighbors who are joining the board for the first time, as well as those who are re-upping their status as members of the Board of Directors.
Delicious food was served and, despite these fraught times and a very hot night, the room was full of neighbors who hold concern for the well-being of their neighborhoods, Jamaica Pond, and the entire Jamaica Plain community.