For over 20 years, The Boston Harbor Association has taken students out to Deer Island to visit and tour the wastewater treatment plant and bring engagement into the subject of Environmental Science for area students. This fall, members of the TBHA staff will once again lead hundreds of students on this interactive learning exercise.
Students will have the opportunity hop a ride on the ferry provided by Mass Bay Lines from Rowes Wharf for Deer Island, and then join a staff-led tour of the facilities while receiving instructions and background of the historic island. Topics covered during the tour will often depends upon the students level of understanding, but will range from engineering, science, and mathematics. Often the history of the city of Boston and its city planning will be covered during the tours.
Harbor Bound is made possible by generous support of the Massachusettes Water Resource Authority, MIT Alums, Mass Environmental Trust and other federal and private grants. The Boston Harbor Association offers Harbor Bound tours twice a year: during the Fall and the Spring semesters.
Next month, I become President and CEO of Riverlife, an organization which works to reclaim, restore, and promote Pittsburgh’s riverfronts. Riverlife’s vision calls for a grand, 13-mile continuous system of riverfront parks and trails, and large numbers of visitors and residents are already enjoying the existing riverfront open spaces and amenities.
As I prepare to leave The Boston Harbor Association after 24 years, I am reminded of the dedicated efforts of so many people to help transform Boston’s waterfront. During that time, we have been fortunate to have had the strong support of each Governor, Speaker of the House, and Senate President, as well as Boston Mayors Ray Flynn, Tom Menino, and Marty Walsh. Bipartisan political support, and the efforts of Judges Garrity, Mazzone, and Stearns and of public agency staffs, helped to make possible the clean up of Boston Harbor, restoration of Boston Harbor beaches, and enhancement of Boston Harbor Islands. The 41-mile HarborWalk public access network through Boston’s six waterfront neighborhoods, constructed by waterfront property owners in response to state tidelands requirements, is used and enjoyed by thousands of people every day.
The transformation of Boston’s waterfront is extraordinary, and is a model for other waterfront communities. Thank you to all of you for your support of our efforts in the revitalization of Boston Harbor.
