Flax Pond group forming to facilitate improvements

LYNN – Verona Street resident Kevin Cole said he understands the city is shorthanded so he is forming a Flax Pond Association to take on some of the burden of caring for an area he hopes to preserve.”I grew up here,” he said. “I remember swimming in the pond as a kid.”Cole said weeds are slowly overtaking Flax Pond and trees along the banks need trimming.”I understand DPW (Department of Public Works) can’t be everywhere, but something has to be done,” he said.Lisa Nerich, director or Parks and Recreation, said swimming hasn’t been allowed in the pond for at least a decade.”We used to staff it with lifeguards,” she said. “But we were having to close it down a lot for high bacteria rates. Eventually it just closed.”The pond also has an unfortunate history as a drowning site.In 2008 a Lynn man’s death was ruled as an accidental drowning after he was found floating in the pond.A 21-year old man drowned after he went into the pond to retrieve a soccer ball in 2005. In 2009, a Peabody woman also drowned after driving her car into the pond.City officials spent $700,000 on the park last summer and the Chestnut Street end of the pond, across the water from Cole’s home.The work included installing a gazebo, splash pad and new play equipment, resurfacing the existing basketball and tennis courts, repairing the fountain in the pond and installation of a boat dock for a possible future youth summer sailing program.Money for the project came from two grants.Cole’s main concern now is the rest of the pond that stretches out to Magnolia, Euclid and Lakeview avenues.Cole made phone calls and handed out fliers announcing the first meeting, which was held last month. He said he set out 36 chairs and when his wife Leslie suggested getting more he said, “Don’t worry it’ll be enough.”It wasn’t even close.Ward 1 City Councilor Wayne Lozzi said he attended, thinking a handful of people might attend.”About 85 people showed up at that first meeting,” he said. “I was shocked. People were streaming in. It was standing room only.”Lozzi said there had been an association in the past, but it dwindled after a couple of months.”The first meeting had 40 people and then the next 30 and the next 20,” he said. “Then it died out altogether.”Cole said he is hoping that doesn’t happen this time.”I’m hoping the second meeting will be as good as the first,” he said.Cole said his immediate concern regarding the pond is looking into eradicating the weeds that are invading and appear to be taking over the pond, and trimming back trees.”And control the geese,” he said. “That was a big topic at the first meeting.”Long-term plans, he said, include getting the pond opened for swimming again.Cole admitted he’s not sure how to make that happen because he knows nothing about forming an association. He said the venture has been a learning process but he is committed to the project.”At the next meeting, we’ll have to elect officers,” he said. “Without officers this won’t go anywhere.”Lozzi said there was another meeting set for later this month, the exact date has yet to be determined, and he is anxious to see how the association unfolds.”The Coles are taking the new association seriously,” he said. “And good for them.”