The Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild – A Moment Worth Remembering

 

By Tom Mcdonald

Rozzie celebrated a milestone environmental and social justice achievement on Saturday, December 11 at the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild. Things have been brewing concerning the wetlands on Walter St. and a piece of local legislative (and environmental justice!) history-in-the-making.

After years of effort, the land at 108 Walter street became part of the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild for permanent preservation as open space, with a provision for four units of affordable ownership housing. The Boston City Council voted unanimously to preserve the space in May. And in August the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) designated Habitat For Humanity Boston as the housing developer.
 
Though the rain came down hard that Saturday, a hardy crowd of supporters gathered to celebrate the preservation of the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild as permanent open space.

We heard rain-shortened but nonetheless gleeful speeches from our community of leaders whose years-long efforts for the Wetlands finally had come to fruition, including Mayor Wu, City Councilors, City Chiefs, and neighborhood activists. They praised the local wetlands flora and fauna, and Roslindale and its amazing residents; and they were encouragingly resolute as they spoke of Boston’s vision for our environmental and social justice future.

Making the City’s Wetlands preservation decision a doubly crowning achievement, the president of Habitat for Humanity (HfH) noted in his turn at the microphone that HfH would be looking for volunteers, possibly in the spring or early summer, to begin building the included abutting four units of affordable housing at 104 Walter with  an eye toward reaching net-zero carbon construction standards! For this Greening Rozzer, the Wetlands celebration emanated inspiration and pride of City. It seemed as if even the rain was celebrating….

Kudos to the Roslindale Wetlands Task Force, to the wetlands for hanging-in patiently while waiting for the protection it deserves, and to Boston and Habitat for Humanity for elevating open space and affordable housing!
 
Let’s keep it coming!