Spring Pond - Clean Again!

The City is reporting that the sludge dumped by the City into Spring Pond over the course of many years, has been cleaned up and they have met the DEP deadlines.

Salem News: Spring Pond cleanup costs city $393,000

While there are certainly unanswered questions, and many more unsubstantiated rumors and claims/cross claims, surrounding the many years of intentional "overflow" dumping of water treatment sludge into Spring Pond... it is good to know that the work is complete and that the pond is back to its original state.

Here are some images from GoogleMaps and Maps.Live to refresh your memory of the situation. Click on each for a larger view.



The original intent of the (almost) $1 million dollar bond was not to just clean up the sludge, but to purchase new equipment and upgrade the facilities. I could not find the original estimates for each portion of the project, but I believe these numbers ($393,000) for clean up costs was in the estimated range.

For all the talk at the time, there has been little public discussion concerning the who, when and why this all happened from City Government. I would certainly be more in favor of a real investigation into this matter and a public airing of the findings. I feel this is important especially since so many wild allegations have been thrown around in the blogs and the street corners, ball fields and coffee shops.

So while I am glad this clean up in done, I would like to have seen the 'report' on the reasons we needed to do it in the first place.

Walnut Street Park gets 9 thumbs up from City Council!

Lynn Item: Peabody council OKs purchase of vacated property
Salem News: Council OKs park to revive fouled lot
Salem News Editorial: Green replaces industrial grime in Peabody

Well despite the silly grandstanding protestations of Councilor Mello, and the NO vote from both him and Councilor Sinewitz. the saner minds on the City Council passed the measure and now the City can fully pursue the property.

This is a great opportunity for the neighborhood and the downtown area in general. Let's hope that this is just the first move in a rethinking of what the City of Peabody can do for its citizens and its downtown.

Bike Path Work Stops - Will Restart in Spring

The Lynn Item: Peabody bike path work comes to halt

The bike path seems to be well on its way to completion. I have heard from many folks now who tell me they have already begun using the trail (in the snow) for both cross country skiing and snow shoeing.

Frankly I am not one who relishes hours of frigid trekking through the snow, especially not for fun! But I am looking forward to spring and walking the bike path. Folks have told me that they didn't know Peabody was so beautiful as they traversed the ponds and pathways. Even folks who are frequent Brooksby visitors tell me the bike path is going to be the best thing the City has done in years.

HECK... I might even need to fix up that old derelict bike in the garage.