The Manager's report back on improvements to Jerry's Pond and along Rindge Avenue. PLACED ON THE TABLE BY MAYOR SIDDIQUI IN COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

In response to the above-mentioned policy order, the Department of Public Works (DPW), Community Development Department (CDD), and Traffic, Parking and Transportation (TP&T) report the following:

The North Cambridge site containing Jerry’s Pond and its surrounding environs is owned by IQHQ. Much of the 26-acre site is enclosed by fencing, including Jerry’s Pond (also known as Jerry’s Pit). Jerry’s Pond is an artificial pond that was created about 1870 from a disused clay pit. The clay pit was subsequently filled with water and an icehouse was built around 1907. Though the property was privately owned, Jerry’s Pit was well known as a neighborhood swimming hole until the Francis J. McCrehan Pool opened in 1961. The property has housed other uses throughout its history, including manufacturing.

IQHQ has been working with the community and city staff, as they create their development plans for the site, including improvements for the area around Jerry’s Pond.

The IQHQ team has indicated that they share the goals of improving access to Jerry’s Pond, improving connections to nearby open spaces, and enhancing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, while responsibly managing the environmental conditions on the site.

Key elements of the plan include:

Boardwalks along Rindge Avenue and the eastern side of Jerry’s Pond to provide opportunities for people to walk along the pond.

Picnic Areas for community use, with over 100 seats on benches and at picnic tables.

Scenic Overlook – a 35’ x 70’ accessible waterfront boardwalk plaza with protected mature trees in the decking.

Ecological Center – a roofed, open-air pavilion to support an education program run by Mass Audubon for school children and the community.

Communal Garden – providing a new communal garden and working with Green Cambridge to design and manage the garden.

MBTA Plaza Improvements – planting trees in raised beds in the MBTA paved plaza.

Alewife Brook Parkway – widening the existing sidewalk and adding a second interior path along the Parkway.

Interpretive Signage– including history of the area.

Rindge Ave – IQHQ has committed to making improvements for people walking and biking along Rindge Avenue, as well as crossing Rindge Avenue.

• 400’ long boardwalk for pedestrian access along the pond.
• Multi-use path along Rindge Avenue to accommodate 2-way bicycle traffic and pedestrians.
• Additional trees on both sides of Rindge Avenue.
• Crossings of Rindge Ave – The plan identifies improvements to the signalized crossing at the parking area, but the details of the improvements have not been finalized. City staff will continue to work with IQHQ and the community on this important issue as the design progresses to ensure the plan enhances the experience and safety for pedestrians and cyclists crossing Rindge Ave. Path Connections for Pedestrians and Cyclists – providing additional paths and enhancing existing paths to improve the connectivity between Linear Path, the MBTA headhouse and Minuteman Path.

In addition to the physical improvements, IQHQ has committed to the long-term operations and maintenance of the improvements and funding scholarships for low income residents ($500,000), and the Just-A-Start Biomedical Career Program for low income residents ($500,000).

The plan continues to evolve and improve based on extensive collaboration with the community, environmental professionals, a wildlife ecologist, city staff and continuing evaluation of tree impacts. The IQHQ plan appears to address the key goals of improving access around Jerry’s Pond, improving connections for people biking and walking through the area, enhancing Rindge Avenue, and protecting habitat areas, without requiring city funding. City staff will continue working with IQHQ as the plan is further developed and submitted to the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission for their review and approval.

Plan of Improvements Around Jerry’s Pond Rindge Avenue Cross-Section Looking Towards Alewife Brook Parkway