What we value about Warner’s Pond
What proposal or combination of proposals will support our values?
We would like to thank everyone who attended the Warner’s Pond Task Force public forum, both in person and online, on Thursday, April 3. We believe that your input is important to help us form our final proposal for Warner’s Pond moving forward.
We presented three proposals at the forum: recurring pond management, dredging, and dam removal. Each of these proposals will be measured against Envision Acton, Bridge to 2030 criteria. The criteria include history/character, livability/values/recreation, mobility/accessibility, ecological sustainability, and fiscal sustainability. The town of Acton values these criteria, and we will ensure that they are all considered in our decision-making process.
As a task force, we reviewed all the previous proposals, studies, and analyses that have been completed over the years. We learned what is still relevant and what is no longer useful.
We are also mindful of what is happening around Warner’s Pond in West Acton. Gerow Recreational Area, purchased in 2018, overlooks Warner’s Pond, as does the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. There are several housing developments planned for West Acton, such as the NOVO Project on Baker Avenue, Assabet River Bluff off Old Marlboro Road, 1450 Main Street, and Forest Ridge Road Complex, to name a few. We are also aware that MCI is looking at housing as well as a variety of other projects.
We have to ask, what do we value — recreation, wildlife, history, stakeholders, costs? Seems to be that we value all of them. What proposal or combination of proposals will support our values? This is what we have to determine as a task force.
Christine Denaro
Commonwealth Avenue
Bill Kemeza
Davis Court
Co-chairs, Warner’s Pond Task Force
