The Westfield River flows under the Great River Bridges north of Half-Mile Falls Park in Westfield.
Reminder Publishing photo by Amy Porter
WESTFIELD — In late June, the Westfield River Watershed Association put out an appeal for more board members, saying it was in danger of folding after 72 years due to lack of a quorum for meetings. Volunteers stepped up, and now the board is planning its first-ever summer picnic and river celebration in August, a gathering they hope will help them engage with more community partners.
WRWA board member Ann Barone said there was a good response to the appeal, and three new people joined the board of directors. She said all three have been involved in the past with the nonprofit organization, which was founded in 1952 with a focus on keeping area rivers clean.
“We got three people who stepped forward for the Westfield River Watershed Association, which was great. We would still like one more,” Barone said. “Our organization is 70-some-odd years old. Originally, it was about keeping the water clean (not to be pink when they’re making pink toilet paper). That was the original purpose,” Barone said, adding now the Westfield River is swimmable, and portions are designated by the federal government as “Wild and Scenic” — the first such designation east of the Mississippi.
Barone said now the organization wants to focus on recreation, education and economic justice issues. WRWA is a part of the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership, formerly known as the Friends of Conte, a coalition of organizations from the entire Connecticut River watershed from the Canadian border to the Long Island Sound, covering parts of four states.
“We meet quarterly and look at what’s going on,” Barone said, adding they look at the issues and what legislation they might support around clean water and conservation. “I think it’s important work.”
Locally, the WRWA sponsors two main Westfield River cleanups, one on the last Saturday of the Big E, this year Sept. 25, and one in the spring around Earth Day. Barone said the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership also sponsors a Source-to-Sea Cleanup every year on that same day in September, but WRWA focuses on the Westfield River watershed.
The WRWA also sponsors a popular fly-fishing clinic in honor of long-time former president Bill Rose each October — this year on Oct. 19 — at a riverside parking area alongside Route 20 in Huntington.
Barone said at a recent meeting, board members realized the WRWA doesn’t run any events over the summer, and decided to plan the group’s first-ever community picnic and river celebration on Sunday, Aug. 25, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Whitney Park, at the end of Shepard Street in Westfield.
She said the picnic will be open to everyone from Greater Westfield, and an opportunity “to enjoy a late summer’s day along our wonderful Westfield River.”
She said families are welcome to bring their own picnic, blanket and chairs, have a picnic and leave. “They don’t have to stay the whole day, but we’re hoping to have several things for people to do in the park and along the river.”
In an email to community partners, the WRWA invited other nonprofit organizations to participate and sponsor activities at the picnic. She said the group already has volunteers to lead family-friendly programs including a nature walk, scavenger hunt and a fishing demonstration.
Barone said the WRWA is still hoping for groups to lead family or children’s games, art activities, writing, a bike ride, geocaching, nature study and crafts.
“It’s pretty much an open invitation to do something that interests you and at least a couple of other folks,” she said.
Barone said there will be no rain date — “We’ll be there in a light drizzle for a duck walk.” Park rules prohibit fires and alcohol.
Barone said Whitney Park is located in an economic justice area, and the picnic is an opportunity to highlight the Westfield River for residents.
Anyone interested in participating in programs during the day may contact her at annbarone@verizon.net. More information on the WRWA may be found at westfieldriver.org.
