Save White Pond

Please put a moratorium in place. White Pond and its neighborhood deserves respect and deep consideration.

At this moment. we are all living under extreme stress. A small consolation has been he opportunity for many residents to have a chance to savor Concord's many natural resources during this time of lock downs and physical distancing. This seems like the worst possible time to consider making changes to one of our natural gems. Let us put a hold on the process until a time when we can get together and debate in an open forum the pros and cons of changes that could impact White Pond forever.

I sign this as a private citizen who values this natural resource within our town.

White Pond is a small body of water and is barely able to keep good quality water as it is. every tree around the Pond needs to be saved and nurtured. the park cannot be expanded or the water will become unusable. White Pond will always need to be a limited resource or it will be destroyed. In fact, the Town of Concord should be looking at every natural resource very carefully right now. As development proceeds unabated, there are fewer and fewer natural woods and fields left. The water underground is depleted every summer by drought and sprinkler systems, to the detriment of wildlife and ponds.

I’ve helped to monitor the pond since 1988. Water quality has been deteriorating in recent years and measures that have been taken to address it are not enough to reverse the deterioration. It would make sense to fix the existing problem before implementing this project. When I’m out on the pond, it still has a gem of the woods flavor. This project could easily destroy that flavor and aggravate water quality. How is that consistent with the Town’s commitment to preserve its historical treasures?

Please preserve the natural beauty of White Pond

After moving to Concord in 1978. we discovered White Pond and enjoyed its special character for many years. It is for sure a gem. Of course it should be made ADA-compliant, but beyond that, there should be an effort to preserve its character by disturbing as little of the current woodland as possible. At minimum, there should be a period for community comment and input, and the feedback from abbutters should be especially respected.

White Pond is a precious resource, please put a moratorium on this project.

Although I know the town feels that it is creating an “improvement” to White Pond over what is currently there, but honestly, expanding parking, taking down trees, installing buildings, changing the whole character of what we know as White Pond? WP is a jewel, a natural resource for our neighborhood, our community. I really hope that you don’t substitute this paradise with a paint-by-numbers alternative.

Please keep available to Concordians for quiet recreation and children.

Turning this gem of a spot into a Concord “attraction” ruins everything charming, rustic and delightful about it. What studies have been conducted to establish a threshold for public use that could justify expanding access to accommodate more people? Concord is not obligated to make money from it or expand its use to as many as possible. Rather, the town should aim to preserve a corner of the pond for appropriate safe, appropriate and neighborly access that respects the public beach’s position alongside the pond’s other residents. This looks like intentions are to mirror a Walden Pond model, which would be devastating. Please evaluate what hasn’t worked since concord took it over and assess what should be done better. Under town management the experience has been qualitatively different and harder for local residents to access and enjoy. Respectfully, Paula Huston

My family was a member of White Pond for ten years while our sons were young. The quality of the water for swimming is a concern of mine. I remember visits 20+ years ago when the water was unhealthy to swim in. Thank you, Laura McKenna

This treasure was given to the town to protect not ruin!

This design is an urban park, and doesn’t belong here!

Don't cut trees

This is a beautiful and natural wildlife habitat that should be left alone. It has brought joy to so many families over the years because of its untouched and unspoiled state. It is a small gem that should be preserved. The town has to really look at just how small it is and leave it be.

This should not be rushed. Providing ADA compliance isn't just the law, it is the right thing to do. Time needs to be taken to consider alternatives and determine the least impactful way to do this. Citizens need to be a bigger part of this process.

All the feedback I have heard from the White Pond neighborhood and concerned citizens is that the current plan has no community support (ADA alternatives need to be explored in fuller detail and there should be no gratuitous development of the parking lot).

Unnecessary and destructive.

This petition doesn't even mention the plan to build an accessible wheelchair path zig zagging over the whole hillside.