Charles River Task Force on Equitable River Access

The Charles River Task Force on Equitable River Access (“task force”) has been formed and is in the process of planning three hearings for Fall 2025. This webpage will serve as a central place for meeting information and announcements.

Background

The Legislature established the Charles River Task Force on Equitable River Access under Section 205 of the FY2025 Enacted Budget. The task force is tasked with exploring several key areas, including but not limited to:  

1. Ensuring that the Department considers environmental justice principles in decisions affecting the Charles River between the Longfellow and Eliot Bridges. 
2. Ensuring that all stakeholders are engaged in decisions regarding potential closures or access restrictions along Memorial Drive. 
3. Ensuring that residents of surrounding neighborhoods are properly notified when changes to Memorial Drive access are made. 
4. Improving programming along the Charles River to benefit a diverse range of stakeholders. 

The task force is co-led by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), supported by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the consultant for this project. 

1. Ensuring that the Department considers environmental justice principles in decisions affecting the Charles River between the Longfellow and Eliot Bridges. 
2. Ensuring that all stakeholders are engaged in decisions regarding potential closures or access restrictions along Memorial Drive. 
3. Ensuring that residents of surrounding neighborhoods are properly notified when changes to Memorial Drive access are made. 
4. Improving programming along the Charles River to benefit a diverse range of stakeholders. 

The task force is co-led by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), supported by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the consultant for this project. 

Task Force Co-Chairs

EEA representative: Jonathan Guzmán, Director of Environmental Justice & Equity, Office of Environmental Justice and Equity 

DCR representative: Monika Roy, Senior Director of Environmental Justice 

Task Force Members

• Director of the Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health within the Department of Public Health, or a designee: Logan Bailey, Lead Scientist, Toxicology Division, Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health, Department of Public Health
• Cambridge Health Alliance: Derrick Neal, Chief Public Health Officer, City of Cambridge
• Cambridge Redevelopment Authority: Kyle Vangel, Director of Projects and Planning
• Cambridge branch of the NAACP: Ken Reeves, President
• Cambridge Black Pastors Alliance, Inc.: Jeremy D. Battle, Pastor, Western Avenue Church
• Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition, Inc.: Galen Mook, Executive Director
• Charles River Conservancy, Inc.: Laura Jasinski, Executive Director
• Cambridge Mothers Out Front: Angela DeSousa, Member and Leadership
• The People for Riverbend Park Trust: Franziska "Fran" Amacher, Trustee
• Individual: Lawrence Adkins, Cambridge resident
• Individual: Sheila Headley-Burwell, Cambridge resident
• Individual: Zarriah Jackson, Cambridge resident
• Individual: Valerie Bonds, Cambridge resident
• Individual: Steven Miller, Cambridge resident
• Individual: Thomas Leonard, Allston resident
• Individual: Denise Haynes, Cambridge resident

Task Force Meetings

The first task force meeting will be held virtually on Thursday August 14th, 2025 on zoom. Please register to obtain a zoom link:  Zoom registration link

Charle River Task Force Meeting Agenda 2025-8-14

Public Hearings

Three public hearings will be held as part of this task force. Information will appear here as these meetings are scheduled.