‘Environmental’ Bike Ride Tours Medford

– Bruce Kulik

On Saturday, May 4, Green Medford sponsored an “Environmental Bike Ride” following the Medford Square cleanup. We had beautiful weather and about a dozen people joining us on the ride to various sites across Medford. In addition to those who rode, I would like to thank the following people for their presentations to the group.

Ken Nuti, building manager for the Old Medford High School Condominiums, for discussing the energy saving improvements made with lighting system replacement, and new heat retaining solar skylights for the pool area.

Alicia Hunt, Medford’s Director of the Office of Energy & Environment, for her dicussion of energy savings programs at the Medford Public Schools, and the receiving of Energy Star Plaques for several Medford Schools, including Robert’s School which is the most efficient of the schools.

Tom Lincoln, for his discussion of the history, development plans, and general environmental knowledge of the River’s Edge Development and Park along the Malden River on the eastern edge of the city.

Brian Butler, President of Boston Green Building, for opening his near net zero energy residence to the tour, and describing how he achieved that goal with a deep retrofit including super insulation, an air-to-air heat exchanging ventilation system, solar powered hot water panels that provide domestic hot water and radiant heating, and solar electric panels that often provide more electricity than is consumed by the house.

Bob Paine, for opening his residence and showing us his solar installation, control panels and monitoring equipment, as well as providing needed snacks for the tour participants.

And finally, Fred Laskey, Executive Director of the MWRA for taking time out of his busy schedule to give an enthusiastic talk about sources of pollution along the Mystic River, showing a map of the sewer mains, and describing the MWRA’s projects to separate combine sewer and storm drainage systems that can contribute to sewage overflow during periods of heavy rain. He also discussed a project to clean, inspect, and rebuild portions of the Meetinghouse Brook culvert that winds its way, hidden from view, from the Winchester Reservoir in the Middlesex Fells, to the Mystic River near the intersection of Winthrop Street and Mystic Valley Parkway.

We also made stops at several other places, including near Route 16, Revere Beach Parkway, to describe the construction which will take place to rebuild each of the bridges over the MBTA tracks and over the Malden River, including widening of the roadway to provide for a full breakdown lane, sidewalk reconstruction, and bicycle lanes which will make it much easier and more pleasant to walk or bicycle between the Wellington Circle area and the Santilli Circle area in Everett. The project will also include connecting trails along the river under both sides of the Malden River Bridge.

We traversed the new trail along the Malden and Mystic Rivers behind the Wellington MBTA station parking lot, stopping at the overlook to view the Amelia Earhart Dam, and 4 generations of electric power production at the power plant on the Boston-Everett border. The facilities include old coal and oil fired plants, the new natural gas fired plant, and a large wind turbine.

We stopped at the observation tower in MacDonald Park for a break, and a spectacular view of the river, marshland, Boston skyline, and nearby communities. Our last additional stop was at the Green Line Extension construction site on Harvard Street where contractors are rebuilding the bridge to support 4 tracks and replacing utilities to help reduce flooding under the bridge. This is the first sign of actual construction in Medford for the Green Line Extension project.

Finally, I want to thank Dave Adams and Doug Packer, both members of the recently announced Medford Bicycle Commission, for their service as ride marshals and assistant guides.

Green Medford is chapter of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network, a grassroots organization that helps to foster awareness of environmental issues, and how you can help to decrease your carbon footprint and overall environmental impact. If you missed this ride, watch for one next year, and for the Medford Historical Society ride in the fall.