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Opportunity Details
Conserving Condor Street Urban Wild
The Condor Street Urban Wild is a waterfront natural area and park in East Boston abutting the inner harbor shipping channel of Chelsea Creek and all of its marine industrial uses. Adjacent to a great new playground, this open area is a monument to the value of open space in a congested, low income, urban neighborhood. The Condor Street Urban Wild should be more aptly named phoenix after the mythical bird that rose from the ashes. For more than a century, this 4.5 acre site was used for heavy industry. Now it is a thriving greenspace!
By the 1980’s, the contaminated site was an urban brown-field. Designated as a remediation project during the Big Dig, the site had tons of metal, tires concrete and asphalt removed. The area was capped and redeveloped as a functioning coastal habitat with a salt marsh, tidal flats and an upland meadow. Opened to the public in 2003, the natural area also has walking paths, a boardwalk and a viewing platform overlooking the Chelsea Creek estuary.
By the 1980’s, the contaminated site was an urban brown-field. Designated as a remediation project during the Big Dig, the site had tons of metal, tires concrete and asphalt removed. The area was capped and redeveloped as a functioning coastal habitat with a salt marsh, tidal flats and an upland meadow. Opened to the public in 2003, the natural area also has walking paths, a boardwalk and a viewing platform overlooking the Chelsea Creek estuary.
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On 9/29, we will be restoring parts of the coastal bank and the summit of the Condor Urban Wild These areas have been worn and damaged over time
by weather and by people.
On the rip rap coastal bank, volunteers will be removing litter and weeds, filling in voids (stone pushed away) with soil, and resetting stones. This work will stabilize the
embankment and keep it from eroding in storm events.
On the summit, volunteers will be doing site preparation for a seeding project by weeding, raking, mulching by re-using straw wattles on site. This work will successfully prep the site for seeding of a conservation/wildlife seed mix. The end result of this work will restore the bank and enhance wildlife habitat.
September 23-29 is Climate Preparedness Week! A member of The Harborkeepers will be in attendance to talk to volunteers about climate adaptation efforts in the area.
After helping out at this coastal park, you can head over to the East Boston Library for Climate Change Jeopardy led by Aquarium staff from 3-4:40pm. Come learn about climate change science in a fun, engaging environment!
Environment
Age Minimum (with Adult): 18+, Minimum Age:18+, Orientation Required
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