Springgreen05

A PUBLICATION OF BROOKLINE GREENSPACE ALLIANCE PlaceSPRING 2005 Protecting Land In Brookline: Working Toward Consensus “Place is the vessel in which the spirit of By Tina Oddleifson community is kept.” “Throughout this country’s system of lands, whether in cities where brownfields are being recycled for new parks and open space or at the sprawling urban fringe and beyond where the focus is on protection of our working landscapes—farms, ranches, timber lands—one thing is clear. Economic, social and environmental health comes to those cities and towns that have envisioned and put into practice what we call a “greenprint for growth.” By protecting the best of their landscapes they will be able to stimulate the right kind of growth in the future. They can insure that generations to come will have access to the quality of life and the connection to the natural world that must enhance our built environments. And finally, by protecting the best, communities won’t have to settle for the leftovers of poorly planned growth.” —Will Rogers, President, Trust for Public Land n many ways, Brookline is seen as a community Other sections of Brookline are still characterized that has “done it right” when it comes to open by relatively large tracts of land that include stately Ispace protection and planned development. It is historic homes and private institutions with majes- a community that embodies many of the character- tic trees and mature plantings. Brookline also istics and qualities advocated by “smart growth” includes some typical suburban development near proponents, such as clustered, pedestrian friendly larger (although less accessible) parks and open development with easy access to parks, open spaces, spaces such as the Brookline Reservoir Park, Lost greenways and natural areas. It is a principal reason Pond and Hoar Sanctuaries, Putterham Meadows many of us are living here. Crossing the border and Larz Anderson Park. We even have a working from neighboring Brighton, one breathes a sigh farm in our community—a remarkable feature for of relief when greeted by majestic tree-lined streets a town surrounded by a major city on three sides! at the border. So why should a community like Brookline be In areas such as Brookline Village, Coolidge Corner, concerned about land protection when we PLACE is published twice Cottage Farm, Longwood, Beacon Street, are so different from outlying communities a year, in spring and fall, by Washington Square, and surrounding neighbor- combating sprawl? Brookline GreenSpace Alliance, 370 Washington Street, hoods, we are fortunate to have historic pocket Consider the following: 26.6% of land in Brookline Brookline, MA 02445 parks, clustered developments, tree-lined streets, remains undeveloped. However, over half of this and the nationally renowned Emerald Necklace open space has no legal protections. Most of this park system, thanks to the foresight of illustrious unprotected land is privately owned, but there are residents who came before us—perhaps the also some publicly owned properties whose protec- smart growth advocates of their day. tion status is ambiguous. (continued on page 4) Inside Go Green Gala 2 Invasive Species 3 Muddy River Update 5 Cypress Field Profile 6 Synthetic Turf Report 8 View of Allandale Farm, the last remaining working farm in Brookline. Photo by Marian Lazar. Board Members Officers Setting a New Standard: Brookline’s First Green Building Arlene Mattison, President Kate Bowditch, Vice President Marian Lazar, V.P.-Publications Deirdre Buckley, Secretary Ron Brown, Treasurer ontinuing its commitment to environmen- f Renewable energy—20kw solar cell array (gener- Directors tal initiatives such as the Climate Change ates enough electricity to power four houses); Tony Andreadis Action Plan, the Town plans to renovate its f Energy efficient Low-E double pane windows. Michael Berger C Harry Bohrs public health building, the Steven Glover Train While Green Buildings initially add to building costs, Isabella Callanan Memorial Health Center, as the Town’s first Green Mary Dewart examples of the economic payback on some Corliss Engle Building. A Green Building aims to Mark Fine features are impressive. For Frances Shedd Fisher reduce negative impacts of example, improvements Jay Gonzalez buildings on the Betsy Shure Gross in lighting provide Chobee Hoy environment a 3 - 5 year Anita Johnson through Seth Kaplan payback; Jon Karon integrating Larry Koff low water Susan Levy building use Werner Lohe sustain- Hugh Mattison toilets M.K. Merelice ability, Elisabeth Mundel provide a Fred Perry energy 2 year Deborah Rivers and water Peg Senturia payback; Jean Stringham efficiency, the project’s Ronny Sydney and Jay Veevers new HVAC Donald Weitzman resource Bruce Wolff system is conservation. St eve ham expected to Member Organizations n G ring love n St Brookline Farmers’ Market According to Alan r Trai y Jea n Mem hoto b reduce electricity Brookline Soccer Club Balsam, Director of orial Health Building. P Brookline Village Coalition usage by 27–42% and fuel Brookline Youth Baseball Public Health, his department is Campaign to Preserve St. Aidan’s consumption by 70%. Chestnut Hill Garden Club “excited about the opportunity to educate A major component of the $4.6 million Green Chestnut Hill Village Alliance the Town about the importance of minimizing Climate Change Action Brookline Building project will be solar panels on the roof. This Fisher Hill Association the effects of the built environment on the Friends of Billy Ward Playground particular item is desirable from an environmental Friends of Boylston Playground Assoc. natural environment, and on health, the economy perspective, but not cost effective. Unwilling to delete Friends of Brookline Reservoir and productivity.” Friends of Carlton Street Footbridge the solar panels, Dr. Balsam secured a $100,000 grant Friends of Corey Hill Park Of the many strategies for achieving the healthiest Friends of Cypress Field from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Friends of Dane Park health building possible, here are a few that will be and then appealed to Friends of Brookline Public Friends of Emerson Garden incorporated in the design by the architectural firm Friends of Griggs Park Health, Brookline GreenSpace Alliance, and Climate Friends of Hall’s Pond Bargmann Hendrie + Archtype (b h + a). The follow- Friends of Hoar Sanctuary Change Action Brookline to assist in raising the Friends of Larz Anderson Park ing information is from the feasibility study prepared balance of the $180,000 cost for the solar panels. The Friends of Lawrence Park by b h + a and RES Engineering, Inc. Friends of Leverett Pond groups sponsored a lively St. Patrick’s Day event at Friends of Littlefield Park Friends of Lost Pond e Recycling an existing building; Ballroom Veronique with 180 in attendance. With the Friends of Minot Rose Garden e Use of rapidly renewable natural materials and strong support of the local business community, the Friends of Monmouth Park Friends of the Muddy River wood grown in local forests managed in a Go Green! event raised $20,000, which was matched Friends of the Old Burying Ground sustainable manner (use of local materials Friends of Sargent Pond by Brookline Community Fund. The Town has Garden Club of Brookline reduces energy costs related to transportation); committed to a $35,000 contribution to the cost of Lincoln School PTO Landscape Committee Linden Parks Association f Use of healthy building materials (no fumes, the panels, leaving a small balance still to be raised. Museum of Transportation or hazardous chemicals, no carpet) (Contact the Health Department at 730-2300 if you Putterham Garden Club Restore Olmsted’s Waterway Coalition f Use of automatic temperature controls and would like to contribute.) Salisbury Road-Corey Farms occupancy sensor lighting controls; Neighborhood Association Exhibiting enthusiasm for the landmark environ- Editor f Use of natural daylight and operable windows Frances Shedd Fisher mental project, Dr. Balsam said,“I hope this will be for ventilation; a beacon for other projects in Brookline. We are Executive Director Reduced water use through low flow and Tina Oddleifson f demonstrating that with a little additional upfront waterless toilet facilities and automatic faucets cost you can realize substantial savings on the BGSA is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization (reduces water use by up to 70%); under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue backend. And it’s a really cool project!” Speaking for Reduced chlorinated flourocarbons (CFC’s) in Code. Donations are tax deductible. f Brookline GreenSpace, Frances Shedd Fisher added, mechanical systems (protects the ozone layer); (continued on page 11) Non-Native Plants to Avoid, and Why Invasive plants are generally defined as plants contributed to the decline of endangered NON-NATIVE PLANTS TO AVOID that have spread into local native plant species. Of course, it isn’t just exotic plants Bishop’s goutweed systems and, due to their aggressive hardiness, that create serious harm—for example, the Yellow Hornpoppy choke out indigenous species. Indigenous or wooly adelgid, attacking Two-leaved water-milfoil native species often have been present since our native hemlock Tree of heaven pre-colonial times (pre 1500), or in some forests, is of Dame’s rocket cases have arrived more recently through equal concern. European water-milfoil benign natural processes without the aid of CONTROL OPTIONS Bittersweet Garlic mustard human intervention. Most invasive plants

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