On Saturday, July 27, over 200 people gathered at River’s Edge to explore the Malden River, enjoy an evening of family-friendly activities and learn about opportunities to add more public space along the Malden River.
“Exploring the Malden River” was part of the Malden River Creative Placemaking project. MAPC’s Arts and Culture team is working with the City of Malden to create an installation educating visitors about river access opportunities and limitations, bring people to areas with a high potential for change, and solicit input from residents.
The Chinese Culture Connection organized the event and environmental advocacy organization Friends of the Malden River participated. Events included Tai Chi, tug o’ war, face painting, leaf rubbing, water balloon catch, drawing yourself on the Malden River, and an interactive activity about water runoff.
Although many attendees were not familiar with the Malden River before the event, the gathering demonstrated the river's potential to be a vital recreational space for people of all ages. For those looking to learn more about public access to the river, a group of multi-lingual interpreters trained by MAPC staff helped attendees learn about their rights to the river.
Everett and Medford have paths connecting people with the river, but public access is spotty in Malden. Thanks to this event and the corps of interpreters, more people can now learn about upcoming opportunities to share their vision for riverfront space, as well as how to become effective advocates for the river.
What's up next? On Sept. 28, MAPC will co-host Cruise in a Canoe with the Friends of the Malden River and Mystic River Watershed Association. No canoe experience necessary, but registration is required! Download the flyer to learn more.
To learn about upcoming opportunities to engage with the project and share your vision for riverfront space, visit the Malden River Creative Placemaking webpage.