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<div><div dir="ltr"><div><br></div><div> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">[Friends: This is an important matter for people who enjoy the "Commonwealth's" DCR-operated pool in North Cambridge</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> near the</font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12pt; "> Alewife T Station. Especially important for young people, families with kids and, above all, poor and lower-income</span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> people who can't afford a week or two on Martha's Vineyard for their summer vacations. There is a major public</font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12pt; "> housing</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12pt; "> development across the street -- Jefferson Park -- and the not-so-attractive Rindge Towers (now "Fresh</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12pt; "> Pond' Apts...."), two</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12pt; "> of the original three buildings of which have an owner who continues to receive subsidies for lower-income tenants. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12pt; ">[These</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12pt; "> were what were known as "expiring use" buildings.] These residents and families need recreation opportunities we can enjoy!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12pt; "> For some additional background, please see my "letter</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12pt; "> to the editor," </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; ">which is included at the bottom. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><br></span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> cheers* James Williamson</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Co-President, Jefferson Park Tenant Council*</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> (* for identification purposes only) ]</font></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div> http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/parklandsupcoming.htm<div><br></div><div> http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/materials/parklands/mccrehan2012-3-1.pdf</div><div><br></div><div><p style="font:16.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>Department of Conservation and Recreation Commonwealth of Massachusetts</b></p>
<p style="font:24.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>PUBLIC MEETING FRANCIS J. MCCREHAN MEMORIAL SWIMMING POOL MODERNIZATION</b></p>
<p style="font:22.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>Thursday, March 1, 2012 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Andrew Peabody School Auditorium 70 Rindge Avenue, Cambridge</b></p>
<p style="font:14.0px 'Times New Roman'">At the public meeting, DCR will present plans to modernize the Francis J. McCrehan Memorial Swimming Pool in Cambridge, including design and construction plans. Potential future site amenities to the pool area will also be discussed.</p>
<p style="font:14.0px 'Times New Roman'">The project is scheduled for completion over the next four months, and the modernized facility is planned to be open for the public’s enjoyment in time for the upcoming pool season. The Patrick-Murray Administration has set aside approximately $400,000 for the project.</p>
<p style="font:14.0px 'Times New Roman'">If you have questions about the public meeting, please email <span style="color:#3900fc">DCR.Updates@state.ma.us </span>or call 617-626-4974.</p>
<p style="font:11.0px 'Times New Roman'"><i>Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request by emailing Agatha Summons-McGuire at </i><span style="color:#3900fc"><i>asummons@state.ma.us </i></span><i>or by calling her at 617-626-1282. Please provide Ms. McGuire with a description of the accommodation you will need, including as much detail as you can, as well as information on how she can contact you if more information is needed. Please allow at least one week (7 days) advance notice to Ms. McGuire of a need for reasonable accommodations; last-minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. To request materials in accessible formats (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), please also contact Ms. McGuire.</i></p><p style="font:11.0px 'Times New Roman'"><i><br></i></p><p style="font:11.0px 'Times New Roman'"><i><br></i></p><p style="font:11.0px 'Times New Roman'"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; ">Subject: Letter to the Editor: "Don't Dump Cement in the Deep End of the McCrehan Pool!"<br style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:44:53 +0000<br style="text-indent: 0px !important; "><br style="text-indent: 0px !important; "><div dir="ltr" style="text-indent: 0px !important; "><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "><br style="text-indent: 0px !important; "></div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">To the Editor:</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> The state DCR have announced that they will conduct a public meeting</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">on their "plans" for the McCrehan Pool in North Cambridge (off Rindge Ave.</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">near Russell Field and the Alewife T Station) this Thursday, March 1, at</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">6:30 p.m. at the Peabody School on Rindge Ave.</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> The DCR's "plan" is to fill the deep end of the McCrehan Pool with cement.</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> If properly managed and adequately staffed, any risks involved in the</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">enjoyment of a pool with a deep end can be minimized. This has been well</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">demonstrated here in Cambridge. Closing off the deep end of the pool when</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">necessary, spot safety checks, required swim tests, etc., are some of the ways</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">this has been achieved.</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> Why ruin everyone's responsible fun and pleasure <i style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">everywhere</i> because the</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">DCR were negligent in their supervision of management at a pool in New Bedford,</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">where a woman <i style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">who could not swim</i> was allowed to use the deep end of their pool,</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">and whose body then went inexplicably -- and tragically -- "undiscovered" for two days!</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> The DCR should be addressing and correcting their own negligence, and not</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">taking it out on everyone else by taking what must seem to them -- and the overpaid liability</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">lawyers they over-rely on when it comes to public policy -- like "the easy way out," </div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">but only for<i style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> them</i>, not for <i style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">us, </i>who enjoy this pool.</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> The McCrehan Pool also just happens to be an internationally renowned Skateboard</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">Bowl in the off-season, known as the "C-Bowl." (Look it up on youtube!) </div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> Must we fill this swimming pool with cement, ruin responsible fun for hundreds</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">of under-served kids, and close off forever a unique recreation spot at the same </div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">time? Waste money on cement, and pay to build "skateboard parks" elsewhere where</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">no one wants or will use them?? </div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> I hope the DCR will listen to us (and their own demonstrably more responsible local</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; ">staff here in Cambridge) at this meeting.</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> And I hope you, dear reader, will be there, as well.</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "><br style="text-indent: 0px !important; "></div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> "Deeply" concerned,</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> James Williamson</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> 1000 Jackson Place</div><div style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> Cambridge, MA</div><div><br></div></div></span></i></p></div> </div></div> </div></body>
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