People who swim in the winter at Walden Pond are a hardy bunch
Even in February, walkers at Walden Pond often see swimmers determined to do their own thing. It was in the 40s, sunny & the water was “very cold.”
If you have to cut or bend a fence out of the way, it’s a good sign that that area of the beach isn’t open to you.
The state park is reporting that visitors to Concord’s Walden Pond are hiking off-path, swimming in water not designated to the beach and cutting and bending fences marking restricted areas in the effort to find a swimming spot.
The walking trails full of conserved wildlife are littered with fallen tree branches and battered plants, remnants of people trampling the nature around them while tearing through the paths.
Park rangers have repeatedly asked people to knock it off.
“If you do come to visit us here at Walden, please stick to the designated swim areas,” Visitor Services Supervisor Kyle Griffiths said in an Instagram post last month. “We already have people trying to find their own swimming spots along the shoreline and they’re trampling plants habitat and damaging the ecology of the pond.”
More recently, Lisa Little, park supervisor at Walden Pond, spoke to WBZ News Radio 1030 that people had been damaging fences and the local ecology to create their own swimming spots.
“I’m not gonna lie, it’s a beautiful place, it’s a lovely place to enjoy. But we can’t all be here at the same time,” Little said.
Why are people destroying Walden Pond?
In a frenzy to find space on a state beach not closed to high bacteria levels, many have turned to Walden Pond. The problem? Walden Pond’s waterfront is too small for the volumes of visitors it is receiving.
The already-small shore has shrunk even more this summer, as the excessive amounts of rain have overfilled the pond, which does not empty into any other water sources. With only fifteen feet of sand to work with, beachgoers have taken it upon themselves to find more space.
More: Walden Pond is one of MA’s most popular beaches. But DCR suggests going elsewhere in 2024
Why is going in restricted areas at Walden Pond dangerous?
Besides the obvious damage to the plants caused by cutting and walking over them, going in restricted areas causes environmental damage to the nature conservation, which is especially important to the history of Walden Pond.
According to the Walden Pond page on the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) website, using established access areas also helps to control the shoreline’s erosion. While these beachgoers are trespassing in order to find space on the beach, they are effectively shrinking the space even more.
Due to these damages of the conserved land, violators of the restricted areas rule are subject to fines.
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Why is Walden Pond special?
Recognized as a national historical landmark and a state reservation, Walden Pond is best known as the former home of 1800s author Henry David Thoreau. His collection of reflections about living among the natural surroundings of the pond, “Walden,” made the pond famous.
In 1922, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was gifted 80 acres of land surrounding the pond with the stipulation of “preserving the Walden of Emerson and Thoreau, its shores and nearby woodlands for the public who wish to enjoy the pond, the woods and nature, including bathing, boating, fishing and picnicking.”
This original promise is upheld with the stewardship practices in place today, such as established access areas.
How can I protect Walden Pond?
Walden Pond asks that everyone does their part in preserving the land by following established rules and leaving no trash behind.
In light of the high water levels this summer, the DCR encourages visiting other state parks and beaches, a full list of which can be found here.
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Publish date : 2024-08-06 22:17:00
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