Charles River Task Force on Equitable River Access

The Charles River Task Force on Equitable River Access (“task force”) has been formed and is currently holding public task force meetings. Three public hearings are in the process of being planned 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. 

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
• Individual: Sheila Headley-Burwell
• Individual: Steven Miller
• Individual: Thomas Leonard
• Individual: Denise Haynes
• Individual: David English

Task Force Meetings

Task Force Meeting 1

Held virtually on Thursday August 14th, 2025, from 12:00pm-1:00pm.

Task Force Meeting 2

Held virtually on Friday September 12th, 2025, from 11:00am-12:30pm.

Additional materials presented:

Task Force Meeting 3

Held virtually on Monday October 6th, 2025, from 1:00pm-2:30pm.

Charles River Task Force Meeting 3 Minutes: To be uploaded after approval by the Task Force.

Task Force Meeting 4

To be held virtually on Monday November 3rd, 2025, from 12:30pm-2:00pm. Please register for the meeting to obtain a zoom link.

Public Hearings

Three public hearings will be held as part of this task force. The first two will take place in Fall 2025 and the third will take place in Spring 2026. Information about these hearings will appear here as it becomes available.

Public Hearing 1

To be held virtually on Monday November 10th, 2025, from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Please register for the public hearing to obtain a zoom link.

Public Hearing 2

To be held in-person (with no virtual option) on Monday November 17th, 2025, from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Cambridge Community Center. Please register for the public hearing to let us know that you are coming and to provide us with any accommodation and/or language interpretation requests.