To the editor:
Patkin Pond is more than just water and trees — it’s a living symbol of community, conservation, and local heritage. Since 1946, it has been the heart of the Malden Anglers Association, a refuge for wildlife, and a cherished space for those seeking quiet recreation. The Anglers have sponsored programs for veterans and children to visit the pond, learn how to fly fish, and find a reprieve from the urban world. Now, this fragile gem stands threatened by a high-density housing proposal at 961–999 Broadway.
Though the developer has recently adjusted the project boundary to more than 100 feet from the wetland edge — meeting a minimum threshold to avoid automatic review by the Saugus Conservation Commission — we firmly believe that this move does not absolve them of ecological responsibility. For example, the blasting during construction could affect the natural groundwater springs not visible without closer surveying. Patkin Pond’s delicate ecosystem, sustained by rainfall and groundwater, remains dangerously exposed to runoff and pollution from construction-related activity, including additional parking lots, retaining walls, and altered drainage patterns.
This project may help Saugus meet its Chapter 40B Safe Harbor requirements, but at what cost? The loss of biodiversity, fishing access, and an irreplaceable piece of our town’s natural character is too steep a price. The development and its effects deserve a thorough review under both state and local conservation guidelines. Massachusetts prides itself on environmental leadership — now is the time to prove it. We have nothing against development, but we ask the developer to make the project more livable for all of us in Saugus — and perhaps make a little less profit in doing so.
We urge residents, elected officials, and the Saugus Conservation Commission to stand up for our environment and Patkin Pond. Let’s demand accountability, transparency, and, most importantly, preservation. Future generations deserve to inherit this haven — not just stories about what it used to be.
Board of Directors
Malden Anglers Association
