Here is a short video from Warrick Angus that shows that there is at least one fisher cat living at Mary Cummings Park. The fisher cat is not a cat, but rather a relative of the weasel. We are at the very southern end of their extensive range up into Canada. Learn more at Wikipedia.
Fisher cats are widely suspected of being big predators of house cats that are allowed outdoors, so be forewarned.
Much of the work to establish the new entrance to Mary Cummings Park has been done: the new parking area is open; the lawn and meadows are planted; trees are planted and being nurtured.
From the parking lot it might look as if much of the land newly cleared – from tangles of invasive weeds, vines, and shrubs – will now be lawn, but from the drone view above you can see that MOST of the new area will be wildflower meadow, a major addition to the spectacular meadow at Flyer’s Field.
The boardwalk is done and it makes a good destination for a short walk and a relaxing visit. The trails to the boardwalk from parking still need work, but you can get there if you wish, even now.
Signs and trail maps are on the way.
The volume of construction was a surprise to many, but now that it is done, nature is quickly filling the area back in with new plants. (Whether the native species will win out over the invasives will be a spectator sport for the next few years.)
This year’s crop of wildflowers in Flyer’s Field has been really astounding. Check back on this website for a video and slideshow of vast sprays of gold and purple.
These adorable kids decided that the boardwalk that The Trustees put in to get us over the large puddle zone was too good a chance to try some crawling. So even though she was plenty old enough to walk it, this little girl decided that crawling it was too much fun to miss out on…
The Trustees have awarded the contract for the work to be done at Mary Cummings Park. Here is the press release from the Trustees:
May 1, 2020
Re: Construction to Begin at Mary Cummings Park, Burlington, MA
Dear Friends,
I hope this letter finds you and your families safe and well during these difficult times. I wanted to reach out and update you on Mary Cummings Park.
Construction work to restore Mary Cummings Park will begin on Friday, May 8, 2020. The park consists of 209 acres of land in Burlington and Woburn, which is held in trust by the City of Boston and includes a variety of natural habitats, including wetlands, fields, forests, and thickets. The Trustees has an MOU with the City of Boston to manage the park.
Arborists have completed the pre-construction work, clearing a mix of invasive species in order to open views of new landscapes and make space for new areas including parking, a park entrance, a pollinator meadow, and a picnic lawn. The park’s benefactor, Mary Cummings, wanted to ensure the park was “forever open as a public pleasure ground.”
Haven Construction Corporation of Westwood, MA was awarded the construction contract through the public bidding process. Their work will include a new parking lot off Blanchard Road, which will offer access to the park, with 20 parking spaces and a bike rack. They will construct a boardwalk to the marsh, thanks to a generous donation from MilliporeSigma.
The Trustees stewardship staff will enhance existing trails, and build some new trails to improve circulation, correct drainage issues, and reduce the impact on wetland resources. In addition, new wayfinding signage and trailhead kiosks will be installed to orient visitors.
The improvements to Mary Cummings Park will make the park more accessible to all and bring this natural resource back to life, enhancing the visitor experience and helping to increase awareness and appreciation of the park as a public resource.
The restoration work is being undertaken in compliance with state guidelines during the COVID-19 Stay at Home advisory. According to the state’s essential service FAQ distributed on March 25, 2020, landscapers and other businesses not operating out of a bricks-and-mortar location may continue to function with social distancing.
For any additional questions, please contact Kathy Macdonald: kmacdonald@thetrustees.org or Jeremy Dick: jdick@thetrustees.org
Stay safe and well.
Sincerely,
Katherine K. Macdonald, Director
People driving along Blanchard Road are amazed to see the scale of work going on in Mary Cummings Park. The Trustees (of Reservations), the new park managers, are starting on an ambitious project to transform large areas from masses of invasive species into new, wide open meadows.
While is it scary to see construction equipment loose in the park, be assured that when the work is done the park will much more inviting, with more wildflower meadows and a new boardwalk that will allow visitors to birdwatch in the wetlands.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Katherine K. Macdonald, Director, The Stevens-Coolidge Place Portfolio | 781-248-4586 |
Pre-Development Land Clearing to begin at Mary Cummings Park
BURLINGTON, MA – MARCH 27, 2020 – Pre-development work to restore Mary P.C. Cummings Park in Burlington, MA will begin on Monday, March 30, 2020. The park consists of 209 acres of land in Burlington and Woburn, which is held in trust by the City of Boston and includes a variety of natural habitats, including wetlands, fields, forests, and thickets.
Arborists will clear a mix of invasive species in order to open views of new landscapes and make space for new areas including parking, a park entrance, a pollinator meadow, and a picnic lawn. The park’s benefactor, Mary Cummings, wanted to ensure the park was “forever open as a public pleasure ground.”
The full restoration plan calls for removal of invasive plants, such as Buckthorn and Bittersweet, as well as dead trees from the overgrown park. Mayer Tree Service, Inc. will do the initial clearing of invasive plants across five acres of land off Blanchard Road.
A new parking lot off Blanchard Road will offer access to the park, with 20 parking spaces and a bike rack. Additionally, a new pollinator meadow will be planted and a picnic lawn installed for people to enjoy. A boardwalk to the marsh, thanks to a generous donation from MilliporeSigma, will provide an opportunity for visitors and school groups to enjoy the ecology of this critical habitat. New trail additions and the restoration of existing trails will begin in April.
“We are very excited to provide a new accessible trail from the parking lot, which will connect to the soccer field area,” says Katherine Macdonald, Trustees Director of The Stevens-Coolidge Place Portfolio.
The restoration work is being undertaken in compliance with state guidelines during the COVID-19 Stay at Home advisory. According to the state’s essential service FAQ distributed on March 25, 2020, landscapers and other businesses not operating out of a bricks-and-mortar location may continue to function with social distancing.
For any additional questions, please contact Kathy Macdonald at: kmacdonald@thetrustees.org.
This photo is a good example of the transition the park is going through from being looked after by The Friends of Mary Cummings Park to being one of the major parks under the protective wings of The Trustees.
The graphic board from Trustees is temporarily placed on our existing kiosk. In order to allow you to read their graphic we present it below, in sections.
You can learn more about The Trustees plans for the park at their website.
Kids of all ages gathered for rides, fun and food on Sunday, October 20th. A great time WAS had by all, with the most perfect weather anyone could as for. Learn more about NEMBA here. Below are 74 photos by photographer Jon Sachs.
The Trustees are busy at work developing their new plans for Mary Cummings Park. There is no final version ready to show, but we understand it will include a small parking area, nature trail, and picnic area. This all is likely to be created in the area south of the blue water tower, an area that is now so deeply infested with invasive brush that it is impenetrable, except by animals.
We requested that the brush be cleared at such a rate as to allow those animal residents to find new homes.
We look forward to seeing the final plans and sharing them with you, our park supporters.
