To the editor:
The Flax Pond Association would like to openly express its continued gratitude to our Department of Public Works. From the senior leadership to the supervisors and workers, they have all supported our association with multiple efforts to improve Flax Pond. The Flax Pond Association was formed in earnest in 2012 by a handful of neighbors to first attempt control of the invasive resident Canadian geese. Today, we have more than 50 members and a full board of officers and directors.
Over the years, we have developed a working relationship with our DPW that we truly appreciate. In addition to city-wide cleanups scheduled for Flax Pond, the association schedules additional cleanups yearly that are fully supported by our DPW. Dumpsters, tools, equipment, and general support are provided every time. Special requests for things like new E. coli testing, a new buoy line and new buoys, yearly installation and maintenance of our fountain, purchase of replacement anti-geese lights, and an additional Bigbelly trash barrel are just a few examples of the continued support from our DPW. We are forever grateful for Associate Commissioner Lisa Nerich. Her day-to-day support is truly above and beyond, and her list of efforts for us would be too long to print. We are also truly grateful for Commissioner Andy Hall and supervisors like Larry Donahue Jr and Kevin Hemeon. Last year, we had major project requests, and Andy Hall met with me at the pond to discuss each of the projects in detail. As budgeting, time, and crew availability permitted, each project was eventually completed in full.
Projects included repair of severe stormwater cuts on the pond bank near the Chestnut Street playground, coordination with the Lynn Water and Sewer Commission to clean out a catch basin French drain that was backed up and leading to pond-bank erosion near the tennis and basketball courts, and last but not least the installation of new asphalt gutter berms and stormwater runoff pads with protective riprap all along the pond bank at Lake View Avenue and the installation of large “anti-parking” stone boulders all along the new asphalt berms. The Lake View Avenue pond bank now looks tremendously beautiful for years to come.
Again, to everyone at Lynn’s DPW, thank you, and we look forward to continuing our great relationship well into the future.
President Paul G. Gouthro
Flax Pond Association
