Warner's Pond
& Gerow Recretion Area
Background
Warner’s Pond is located within the limits of West Concord Village and has several public access points: Gerow Park, a boat launch on Commonwealth Avenue, and a primitive boat landing at the end of Pond Street. There is also a public pocket-park for viewing the dam on Commonwealth Avenue (adjacent to “Kenny Dunn Square”).
Current recreational activities at Warner's Pond include boating, fishing, bird watching, ice fishing and skating. Local Scout groups from Concord and surrounding towns conduct camping trips, and some Scouting troops host crossover ceremonies on Scout Island. Gerow Park, a seven-acre park along the north edge of the pond, was purchased and constructed by the Town of Concord in 2018 for the purpose of expanding general public access to Warner's Pond and to increase outdoor and aquatic recreational opportunities. Gerow Park marks the mid-point of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT), and currently includes ADA approved trails, several pond overlook points, a community gathering pavilion, and public bathrooms.
Public Access Points Around Warner's Pond
Gerow Park
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369 Commonwealth Ave.
This is the newest and largest public space overlooking Warner's Pond. It includes parking, a pavilion, bathrooms, overlook areas and ADA trails. The Town had plans and permits to dredge along this area, and considered including a swimming beach, a fishing dock, and a boat launch. Located at the mid-point of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT), Gerow Park is accessible by non-motorized transportation. The Town had plans and permits to dredge all along this shoreline.
Primitive Boat Landing
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End of Pond St.
This location is at the end of Pond Street. You can park at Rideout and walk over for wildlife viewing. This was once an active point of recreation. The Town had plans and permits to dredge all along this area.
Boat Launch
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39A Commonwealth Ave.
This is where people put there boats in at Warner's Pond during warmer months, and where people gather for skating in colder months. Currently overgrown and muddy, the Town had plans and permits to dredge along this area and to improve this boat launch so that it is accessible to more people.
Pocket Park
172 Commonwealth Ave. (Pail Factory Bridge)
This is a small park at the Pail Factory Bridge overlooking the Warner's Pond dam. Nestled beside several landmarks, this location is rich with cultural and historical significance dating back to the late 1600's.
Concerns & Responsibilities
"Warner's Pond is a wonderful resource for the Town of Concord, however it appears to have been neglected for too long and is now in need of a major restoration effort to restore its former water quality."
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– Wildlife and Habitat
Assessment Report (1999)
Wildlife and Habitat Assessment Report (1999)
Back in 1999, an environmental group created a Wildlife and Habitat Assessment Report at Warner's Pond for the Town of Concord. The report's senior scientist attached a letter to the report that reads, "Warner's Pond is a wonderful resource for the Town of Concord, however it appears to have been neglected for too long and is now in need of a major restoration effort to restore its former water quality." In the report ten management recommendations are detailed for the Town to consider implementing at Warner's Pond. Here are the first four on the list:
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Mechanical dredging - which would be more effective with a dam that controls water levels in the pond (a dam with this feature was later built in 2008, though for unknown reasons, it's never been used for water management purposes).
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Chemical herbicides to remove invasive submerged aquatic vegetation and algae
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Draw down to remove invasive aquatic vegetation
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Create a "sump" at the Nashoba Brook inlet to collect sediment entering the Pond from the upstream watershed by constructing a low berm of rock gabions (or other similar methods).
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Unfortunately, these and future recommendations were not put into action by a routine Pond Management Plan that would ensure the health of Warner's Pond. There were some attempts, but no consistent follow through on longterm management plans. Therefore, the quality of the Pond continued to deteriorate. There are many Ponds in Massachusetts with active Water Management Plans that have been carried out for decades. Lake and pond management, like land management, is an ongoing and dynamic process that needs periodic revisions and adaptations. Many municipalities work with professionals that have experience in lake management to help them with their efforts. (link)
Subsequent reports at Warner's Pond restated that the Pond was overdue for care, attention, and maintenance. Then, in 2018, Concord residents voted to purchase Gerow Park, and to maximize this investment, they also committed funds to dredge portions of Warner's Pond (a major and important part of an effective pond restoration project at this point). The community was overjoyed that the Pond would once again be an outdoor recreational resource in the heart of West Concord.
