April 20, 2001
To: Senator Dianne Wilkerson, Massachusetts State House
Representative Geoffrey Hall, Massachusetts State House
Senator Frederick E. Berry, Massachusetts State House
Re: Senate 1613 Boston University Sailing Pavilion on Charles River Esplanade
The Alliance of Boston Neighborhoods (ABN) is a consortium of some two dozen Boston neighborhood associations across the city, representing several thousand constituents. ABN strongly protests Senate Bill No. 1613, which would allow Boston University to site a new sailing pavilion on Esplanade parkland without proper public review.
In spite of Boston's location along a river and an ocean, Bostonians are afforded little public waterfront access. As a result, the historic Charles River Esplanade has become an especially treasured and heavily used open space for residents and visitors seeking exercise and enjoyment along the water's edge. Boston University now would like to gain the use of one and one-half acres of the Esplanade's prized public parkland for the construction of a new sailing pavilion for University use.
Most of the Charles River Esplanade, on both sides of the river, is narrow, subjecting park users to the constant noise and pollution of the highways that cut between the neighborhoods and the river. BU has chosen to locate the proposed 6,000 square foot building (three times the size of its current facility) at one of the few locations where a "bulb-out" of land into the water offers park users the greatest distance from Storrow Drive. Additionally, it is one of the most scenic settings, offering an unimpeded view of the river.
Senate Bill 1613, sponsored by Sen. Robert E. Travaglini of East Boston, would enable the privatization of this public parkland, locking in this site for the pavilion without the public review and environmental analysis required by law. If allowed to pass, this legislation would also set an alarming precedent for future transfers of public parkland to private use.
The Commonwealth already has procedures in place to protect citizens from inappropriate private use of public parkland. ABN is requesting that these procedures be followed in a meaningful way: with full public scrutiny before passage of legislation that locks in a specific site.
We request that before any legislation is passed allowing the MDC to lease the land to BU, the project receive a thorough public review, including an environmental impact study and alternative site analysis. Further, the project should demonstrate how it will mitigate any impacts and cause no net loss of park land of equal quality, per Executive Office of Environmental Affairs policy.
Senate Bill No. 1613 sets a dangerous precedent not only for parklands in the Charles River Basin, but also for public trust lands throughout the State. Accordingly, we oppose passage of this proposed legislation, and request that the proposal undergo a full public process.
Sincerely,
Shirley Kressel
President
Alliance of Boston Neighborhoods