Trees Shrubs and Grasses Trees are the most important design element in Over time, security and maintenance issues have shaping scenery. They form edges to paths and reduced the number of shrubs in the Basin land- open space, create canopies, frame views, and scape. The judicious use of shrubs in the park- are the object of the view themselves—the wil- land, however, can improve the character of par- lows at the Esplanade, for example. ticular areas, screen intrusive views, facilitate maintenance where banks need to be stabilized Within the small number of tree species that or grass maintenance is difficult, and control use have been planted, some are poorly suited to the where short-cut paths have degraded park areas. Basin’s needs and should be phased out or used THE MUDDY RIVER urban context, there has been a tendency to sparingly with greater attention to their place- Grass is currently the universal ground cover AT CHARLESGATE, plant trees in straight lines even where there is ment. The bushy, full form of the American lin- throughout the Basin. Many park areas need THE MISSING LINK enough room to relieve that urban linearity den, for example, blocks water views. Mature mown turf to support use and visual character. BETWEEN THE EMERALD NECKLACE with informal massing of vegetation. The tran- Norway maples require deeper, better soil than However, alternative treatments such as tall AND THE BASIN. sition spaces between different areas of the the parkland can provide and CHERRY TREES AT THE Basin and at major approaches should have a should be phased out entirely. The RIVERSIDE BOAT CLUB. treatment that underscores the richness and yearly donation of cherry trees from variety of the Basin experience. The willow trees Japan is a wonderful gesture, but at the Bowker Overpass are an example of what their excessive use in the Basin has might be done. The mature willows mark the lessened their appeal and forced transition between the Fens and the Charles their siting in inappropriate places River Basin and help to soften the impact of the and configurations. Conversely, highway ramps. there are very few evergreens within the Basin, which would add winter 49 The landscape at most bridges should be an interest in the parkland (see the important element that enhances the Basin land- plant list in Appendix E). meadow grasses or ivies should be considered to scape and orients users to the park. Motorists facilitate maintenance, increase visual diversity, take in full views of the bridges and their prob- Particular signature trees, such as the London and protect trees where repeated mower damage lem landscapes as they drive along the Charles. planetrees along Memorial Drive and the black is weakening them. These alternative ground cov- willows at the Esplanade lagoons and Herter ers and shrubs require a different maintenance Park, should be preserved. Most of the Basin’s regime than turf does; additional staff and staff trees show signs of stress due to an urban set- training would be required to maintain a more ting, intensive park use leading to soil com- diverse landscape. paction, or damage mowers have done to trunks. Pathways tend to make their own pathways off the paved much of the Basin. While it is possible to add Large sections of Basin pathways are in poor surface, which helps to alleviate crowding on bicycle lanes in limited stretches along the park- condition. Clogged or nonexistent catch basins the main path but causes erosion and root com- ways, the lack of continuity would force awkward and poor grading have created drainage prob- paction. In several places, such as Nonantum and dangerous transitions as cyclists shifted from lems, such as at Herter Park. Pavement has Road, light poles, signposts, guardrails, or elec- the roadway to a multiuse path and back again. cracked or spalled and potholes have developed trical boxes have been placed in already narrow BARE PATHS NEAR pathways, further constricting their width. Another important consideration is the MIT (LEFT), AND A relation of pathways to parkways, which con- JOGGING TRAIL Narrow widths and overuse of the pathways tributes to a sense of security. Along most of the WORN BY USERS AT LEDERMAN FIELD. have made conflicts between those on foot and north side of the river, the main pathway runs those on wheels more common. Though users close to the parkway and is clearly visible from seem to sort themselves out and avoid collisions on the road. On the south side along most of the crowded pathways, conflicts compel some users to Lower Basin and part of the Middle Basin, the avoid popular spots at certain times. The crowded path is not as visible from the road. The board- BICYCLES, JOGGERS AND PEDESTRIANS conditions are aggravated by individuals who do walk underneath the Boston University Bridge SHARE THE PATH not follow the rules of the road—giving audible is particularly problematic. Anyone on the AT HERTER PARK. signals before passing, for example, or moving at a boardwalk is invisible moderate speed. Even though cyclists and skaters from the road or even may be in control, their speed threatens many from the path seg- in other places such as the Cambridge pedestrians. Pedestrians often look back over their ments that lead to it. It Esplanade at MIT. The historic promenade at shoulders at the sound of brakes or are startled as is in the middle of one the Esplanade is in need of rehabilitation. Bridge cyclists or skaters brush by them to pass while of the longest stretches walkways are not consistently plowed in the avoiding oncoming traffic. This constant state of with no exit from the winter. Vegetation obstructs some of the paths in nervousness is not conducive to quiet contempla- Basin parklands. 50 the Upper Basin. A regularly scheduled program tion of the river scenery. Pedestrians themselves of pathway maintenance must be developed. often walk more than two abreast which makes While the Charles passing difficult and dangerous. River Reservation is The width of pathways is often inadequate officially closed after for the amount of traffic they carry, particularly Ideally, wheeled users would be separated from dusk, some of the where parkways crowd the bank. Some stretches pedestrians, as is done in the Southwest Corridor paths are lighted for of pathway are only five feet wide, barely Park. The extremely constrained parkways, paths, night use, and many enough room for bicyclists to pass one another. and shore areas along most of the Charles River people use them. In many of these stretches, users are spilling off Basin make this impossible in most places. The People entering after dusk do so “at their own the paved edges onto bare earth, in effect creat- twelve feet needed to establish two six-foot bicycle risk.” The pathways are not as safe at night as ing paths eight to ten feet wide. Some joggers lanes next to parkways is simply unavailable along they are during the day. State Police records Recommendations for document that a large number of incidents have officers to determine the number of reported Landscape Management taken place between sunset and sunrise; of fifty- incidents; these were then separated into quality- eight incidents in the Lower Basin for which of-life and safety concerns. Incidents that did • Implement a process of selective and sus- the time of trooper response is noted, twenty- not threaten the safety or property of people tainable clearing to achieve a more varied eight took place after dark. On the few Basin using the reservation but did affect, sometimes and picturesque effect along the entire pathways that are lighted, bulbs are often seriously, how comfortable people felt there— Charles River Basin; make additional burned out. Only thirty-six percent of respon- for example, drunken behavior, camping, drug plantings in certain areas. dents to the user survey felt safe at night in the use, and men exposing themselves—were Basin. Although the reservation is not legally classified as quality-of-life issues. Safety inci- • Introduce a greater variety of plant choices open at night, use does occur then and ways to dents include all serious injuries, threats, or and vegetation designs into the Basin land- make Basin pathways safer after dark should be damage to property, such as assault and collisions scape. Planting should define open spaces, with explored. between an automobile and a pedestrian or plants in masses, and should incorporate cyclist. Collisions between automobiles on park- informal configurations where there is Police Presence and Security ways were not included in the count. sufficient park width. For visual and horti- Many users assert that a stronger police presence cultural reasons the palette of canopy tree in the Basin has been necessary for some time. In general, there were far more incidents choices should be expanded. The palette of Patrolling on the pathways is limited to two reported below the BU Bridge than above it, understory ornamental trees should also be State Police troopers on bicycles between the including the majority of the safety incidents. expanded and should be planted in a greater historic Charles River Dam and the Boston In July , for example, users reported thirty- variety of configurations to embellish struc- University Bridge and one between the Boston two safety incidents and twenty-six quality-of- tures, define terrace areas, and highlight University Bridge and the Watertown Dam. In life incidents in the Lower Basin but only eight sculpture. Evergreens should be planted to the summer they are joined by several MDC safety and seventeen quality-of-life incidents in increase winter interest, modulate views year- park rangers. MDC rules and regulations for the the Upper Basin.