Warner's Pond
& Gerow Recretion Area
Local Events & Resources
The Warner's Pond & Rideout Park Neighborhood is part of West Concord Village.
Warner's Pond
Task Force
Follow the Taskforce
You can find information about the Warner's Pond Task force on the Town's Webpage, which is linked above. They provide meeting times, dates, locations, agenda, minutes and links to Minuteman Media's recordings.
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Location alternates Keyes Rd and Harvey Wheeler.
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All meeting follow Open Meeting Laws
TO PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM:
Join Zoom Meeting:
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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86774338555?pwd=cUV1V3RmaXllWkd1VTdMTjZ3ckNUQT09
Meeting ID: 867 7433 8555
Passcode: 881889
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Public Feedback to the Taskforce:
You can provide your own comments to the Warner's Pond Task Force by completing the form linked below. Comments are reviewed prior to each meeting.
Overview
Warner’s Pond, a wildlife habitat and community resource for generations, is in a state of eutrophication, which has resulted in a number of undesirable conditions including decreased water depths, widespread growths of aquatic invasive plants, and impaired recreational opportunities. For several years, the Town pursued a limited dredging project (6 acres of the 54-acre pond) to improve the ecological health and recreational opportunities at the pond. In August 2022, with permits in hand, the project was put out to bid. One bid was received, coming in more than three times higher than the funds allocated for the project. The Division then had an Alternatives Analysis Report developed to evaluate modified dredging, dam removal, and no action. This report recommended dam removal as the Preferred Alternative, which is a change in strategy from dredging. Based on community feedback, the Natural Resources Commission has established this Task Force to review alternatives, explore any other feasible options, and recommend a course of action forward. The task force is made up of 11 voting members and five ex officio representatives, and will be led by facilitators Toby Berkman and Rachel Freed from the Consensus Building Institute.
Volunteer
Warner's Pond is a dynamic ecological habitat as well as a community resource that requires ongoing care. Last summer, volunteers conducted a couple of Water Chestnut removal events. People of all ages came out to help with the effort to remove this invasive plant growing in the Pond. Join us in our mission to care for Warner's Pond as an ecological and recreational resource!
Warner's Pond is part of the town's historic and cultural heritage; as such, volunteers participate in local celebratory events such as Discover West Concord Day, The Holiday Stroll, and Spring Into West Concord. Join us in our mission to protect, preserve and celebrate Warner's Pond as a vital part of our community by volunteering at an event!
Facebook is how people from near and far can post and share memories, perspectives, ideas, photos, and information about Warner's Pond. Warner's Pond was, and continues to be, a special place for many people, especially those who grew up nearby. There is great hope that with the purchase and construction of Gerow Park on the north side of the Pond, more people will have access to the beauty and outdoor experiences this resource has brought to West Concord residents for generations.
Water Chestnut Removal
Community
Events
FOWP
Facebook Group
Friends of
Warner's Pond
Protect, preserve and enhance
Warner’s Pond and its adjacent
wetlands and habitats through
responsible management.
Friends of Warner's Pond (FOWP)
is an informal group of Concord residents who came together in the summer of 2023 to discuss a new proposal from the Town of Concord's Natural Resources Division (NRD) to remove the dam that creates Warner's Pond. The NRD, who had previously pursued a plan to dredge the Pond in order to improve aquatic habitat for ecological and recreational purposes, was now stating that dam removal was the preferred solution to manage invasive plants and sediment build-up in Warner's Pond. Residents questioned this change of direction, especially since the town was so close to completing an impactful project that was many years in the making, and to which, the Town had devoted significant funds.
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These points, combined with plans to complete several high density housing developments in West Concord, underscore the importance of slowing down in order to allow a more comprehensive and thoughtful approach to such a big decision. Especially since it involves the fate of Warner's Pond, a well established and beloved town resource that provides free outdoor recreational opportunities for both current and future residents.
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This thinking is the unifying foundation of Friends of Warner's Pond:​​ Slow down to carefully consider the challenges at Warner's Pond and explore more holistic solutions to the problems at hand.
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Context for Grassroots Movement
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1999 - 2018
1999 - There are reports of invasive plants at Warner's Pond as early as the 1980's, and in the late 1990's the Town hires an environmental consultant to assess the situation and provide recommendations for restoring the Pond to a healthier state. link
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2004 - A Warner’s Pond Stewardship Committee is formed under the Natural Resource Commission – NRC. The mission:
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To protect, preserve, and enhance Warner’s Pond and its adjacent wetlands and habitat through responsible management. link
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They help raise funds for another consultant to assess the situation and provide recommendations for restoring the Pond to a healthier state. Here is the summary: Link
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2006 - Town residents vote to rebuild the Warner’s Pond Dam at town meeting. link
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2008 - Warner’s Pond Dam is rehabilitated for approximately $1.6M.
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It's been inspected on schedule since and is deemed to be in good condition and not at risk for failing.
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​It's engineered to pass “100–Year Design Flood” regulations.
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It's celebrated as a cultural landmark and modern engineering success.
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A small pocket park, accessible from Commonwealth Ave, was created for viewing it.
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The dam has a drawdown feature (never used) to allow for aquatic invasive plant management and for flood control, as mentioned in the 2004 Water Management Plan Summary. link
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The dam has a spillway feature that was engineered to help steer water under the Pail Factory bridge and to prevent flooding. It was discussed at the time of construction, that the spillway feature could also be easily and affordably retrofitted for fish passage if/when migratory fish make it to this part of the watershed.
2012 - Warner’s Pond Stewardship Committee, under the Natural Resource Commission (NRC), dissolves and no resident-based committee is created in its place.
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2012 - Water Management report adds dredging as a recommended action to improve water quality for ecological and recreational reasons. link
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2018 - Town residents vote to purchase and construct a recreation area on the north side of Warner's Pond – Gerow Park – for approximately $3M.
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Recreation at the proposed area includes plans for picnic areas overlooking Warner’s pond, a beach, and a dock for aquatic recreation that includes boating and fishing.
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An additional $3M is secured for improving the water quality at Warner's Pond (the amount needed to dredge the pond as recommended in 2012).
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2022 - 2023
2022 - Gerow Park is nearly complete but then construction comes to a halt due to a financial conflict between the Town of Concord and one of the contractors. (Eventually, an agreement is reached and the project continues and is scheduled to be completed in spring of 2024.)
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August 2022 - Natural Resource Division (NRD) seeks bids for dredging Warner's Pond, which is the final piece of a larger plan voters have been eagerly anticipating since 2018.
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Only one bid is formally submitted and it is far over budget ($9.5 million, when the budget is $3 million).
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More than half the cost outlined in the received bid ($4.5 million), is for disposing dredged sediment at an undisclosed off-site disposal facility, chosen by the contractor.
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Instead of reevaluating the bid and creating a better plan for the dredged material that could bring the cost of the project back into alignment with the Town's budget, the NRD hires EA Engineering to figure out a new path forward for the project.
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March 2023 - EA presents three new recommendations for the pond at a community meeting as part of a new "alternatives analysis":
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Dam Removal
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Limited Dredging
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No Action.
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Concord residents are learning about the high bid for the first time and ask questions about it during open comments. Limited and insufficient answers are provided, and residents previously told they can expect an improved and restored pond, are instead expected to quickly adopt a different path forward for Warner's Pond, that includes its permanent removal.
The NRD also announces that the Town will vote on the future of the Pond at Town Meeting in the Spring of 2024.
In preparation for a vote that supports dam removal, the NRD uses CPA funding previously voted for pond restoration, to instead begin a dam removal project that would remove the pond as early as the summer of 2024.
May 2023 - EA presents the same information in support of dam removal at a second community meeting.​ Residents continue to ask important clarifying questions during the open comment period, and again, many go unanswered. There is growing resistance from residents who are just beginning to conceptualize this dramatic change to the project and its impact on West Concord. Yet, the NRD moves forward with dam removal design.
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Grassroots Movement
May - August 2023 - Concord residents start to talk about the situation and question why the NRD is so quickly pushing a new path forward when we are very close to completing an impactful and voted upon project that was many years in the making, and to which, the Town had devoted significant funds. These points combined with plans to complete several high density developments in West Concord, underscore the importance of slowing down in order to allow a more comprehensive and thoughtful approach to such a big decision. Especially because it involves the fate of Warner's Pond, a well established and beloved town resource that could provide free outdoor recreational opportunities for current and future residents. This thinking is the unifying foundation of Friends of Warner's Pond: slow down and look at the situation holistically.
A grassroots movement unfolds:
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Yard signs were created
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A "Save Warner's Pond" website was created
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A facebook group titled "Friends of Warner's Pond" was created
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Several informal community meetings were held
September 2023- This grassroots movement ultimately decides to create a petition that reads:
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We, the undersigned, do not approve of draining Warner’s Pond by removing the dam at Commonwealth Avenue. We urge the Town of Concord to revisit other options for restoring the Pond and securing its future in our community, including dredging.
October 2023 - FOWP delivers the petition with over a 1000 signatures along with a letter requesting:
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The fate of Warner's Pond not be on the 2024 Town Warrant.
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A committee, similar to the former Warner’s Pond Stewardship Committee, be formed to explore pond restoration alternatives.
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That FOWP be provided with guidance from the Select Board as to how to create such a committee in collaboration with Town Leadership.
December 2024 - The Select Board decided Concord's Natural Resources Commission will create and oversee a Warner's Pond Task Force. FOWP is hopeful this Task Force will be able to carefully reconsider what is best for West Concord, including the original plan for Gerow Park to provide greater access and recreation at an improved and restored Warner's Pond.
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February 2024 - The Natural Resources Commission commences a Warner's Pond Task Force. link
"Welcome to warnerspond.org, the site of Warner's Pond in Concord Massachusetts. This website is the work of the Warner's Pond Stewardship Committee, who works in conjunction with the Town of Concord MA, Natural Resources Commission, Division of Natural Resources. We are dedicated to preserving and protecting Warner's Pond and its magnificent natural environment. The Pond is one of Concord's most treasured resources. We encourage you to use the information on this site and to share your own ideas and information on issues affecting the Warner's Pond. Here you can find the latest information on the Warner's pond. Information about events, meetings and items of interest will be posted here on the main page."
In 2004, a Warner’s Pond Stewardship Committee was formed under the Natural Resource Commission (NRC). The committee's mission:
"To protect, preserve, and enhance Warner’s Pond and its adjacent wetlands and habitat through responsible management."
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Co-Chair Joanne Edwardsen Loynd was a loving wife and mother and a civically engaged resident of West Concord. She was involved in scouting, an active church parishioner, a regular at "The Function in the Junction", on the West Concord Task Force, a leader for Friends of Warner’s Pond Stewardship, a member of West Concord Green Thumbs and a proud member of the Laws Brook Road Ladies Club.
Warner's Pond
Stewardship Committee
2004 - 2012
Co-Chair Charles Joseph Simpson was a loving husband and father who was lovingly described as an avid hiker, Boy Scout leader, historian, and gardener. He was a scoutmaster of several Concord Boy Scout troops. As a member of the Warner’s pond committee, he advocated for the restoration and clean up of this beautiful area of West Concord that was once a town dumping ground.
This group's many good efforts included raising funds for a consultant to assess the Pond and provide recommendations for restoring it to a healthier state. Here is the 2004 summary: Link
They also created a website that thoroughly represents their work and is a great resource for all things Warner's Pond: Website
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In 2012, the Warner’s Pond Stewardship Committee dissolved and no resident-based committee was created in its place.
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The Co-Chairs of this Warners Pond Stewardship Committee were Joanne Edwardsen Loynd and Charles Joseph Simpson. They were both known as caring and active community members who were civically engaged in a number of ways, including Scouting and Warner's Pond.