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Winchester officials are turning their attention to one of the town’s most recognizable landmarks, Wedge Pond, as part of a new open space and recreation plan that outlines improvements to parks, trails and natural areas over the next six years.
This is the town’s fourth such plan, which aims to protect the town’s open spaces while making them more accessible and environmentally healthy. The plan provides residents with a report on the town’s recreational facilities and natural environment.
At a Sept. 8 public hearing on the plan, residents said they wanted it to focus on water quality for ponds across town. Wedge Pond, long known for algae blooms and high bacteria levels, is one of the plan’s main focus areas.
Elaine Vreeland, Winchester’s conservation administrator, said the pond is a priority from both recreational and conservation aspects of the plan.
The Conservation Commission will focus on water quality. For years, residents have raised concerns about the health of Wedge Pond. High bacteria counts and recurring algae blooms have kept the pond closed to swimming for long periods.
“There’s a history with the pond of so-called Wedge Pond fever, which goes back probably 60 years,” said John Stevens, who has lived near the pond for more than 30 years. “It’s getting more use now, but it still needs some help to be brought to standards that most people would accept for swimming.”
Testing and treatment of the pond are managed by Water & Wetland, an environmental firm contracted by the town. According to a 2024 report from Water & Wetland, the pond has historically struggled with microscopic algae blooms, which can reduce water clarity and affect aquatic life.
“We conduct monthly site visits, which consist of on-site treatments as necessary,” said James Lacasse, a senior environmental scientist with the company.
The 2024 report documented two invasive plant species, curly-leaf pondweed and purple loosestrife, while native plants, such as coontail and water lilies, continued to thrive, sometimes reaching nuisance levels. Dissolved oxygen readings, which indicate water health, generally showed healthy levels for fish and aquatic organisms, although algae blooms remained a recurring issue.
Lacasse said the town is considering adding an aeration system to pump oxygen into the water, which could reduce algae growth and improve water clarity. The proposed aeration system could cost $35,000 to $40,000 and would mix the water column to reduce harmful algae blooms.
Vreeland said the Conservation Commission is working on getting the aeration equipment. The project is awaiting final approval.
A look at the flora and fauna on Wedge Pond. COURTESY PHOTOS/RANDIE BLACK-SCHAFFER
Nick Cacciolfi, Winchester’s recreation director, said his department is working to make the Borggaard Beach area around Wedge Pond more inviting. Borggaard Beach is currently closed because of high levels of bacteria in the water. Although intended to be a bathing beach, the town has set an alternative goal to make the beach more usable until the water quality issue is resolved.
“Our goal is to make it accessible and available to people that want to enjoy it as a park,” Cacciolfi said.
Two beach volleyball courts are set for construction this fall, and the town plans to add picnic tables, better walking paths, and a small area for kayak launches.
“These are the steps that we’re taking to make it open and feasible for future expansion and to clean up the area,” Cacciolfi said.
Volunteer groups have also become part of the effort to restore the pond. The Friends of Wedge Pond, a local community group, has organized cleanup days, removed invasive plants and raised awareness about the pond’s condition.
The Friends have received Community Preservation Act funding for minor improvements in addition to the ones already being made by the recreation department. Under the CPA, towns can collect a small property-tax surcharge that the state matches by up to 40%. The money can be used for open space, recreation, affordable housing, and historic preservation.
Plans are in the works to improve the area around Wedge Pond. COURTESY PHOTOS/MATT GORDON
Approximately $60,000 in CPA funds have been allocated to support upcoming Wedge Pond projects. At a June 10 meeting, Bill Band reported that state Rep. Michael Day had secured a $150,000 earmark in the state budget for Wedge Pond water quality.
“In the short term, the next year or so, you’re going to see a lot of action down there and bringing it up to speed, and making it more of a town resource than it’s been over the last four or five years,” Cacciolfi said.
For Stevens, Winchester’s plan is a significant step toward fighting climate change.
“These efforts, to me, are important,” Stevens said. “Winchester can’t alone accomplish or limit climate change. It can be an example, and it can also, with the cooperation of others, help to, presumably, minimize the change in climate.”
Aayushi Datta is a journalism student at Boston University. This story is part of a partnership between the Winchester News and the Boston University Department of Journalism.
