Environment
Jamaica Pond — Still frozen on Saturday, March 21, 2015.

Jamaica Pond Closed Due To Algae Bloom; Can Be Deadly To Dogs

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The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) has closed Jamaica Pond due to a suspected bloom of blue-green algae, which can be very harmful and even cause death to dogs. During the closing, swimming, boating, fishing, or engaging in other recreational activities on or in the water are not allowed. Dogs are also not allowed to swim in or drink the water. Health officials noted the algae bloom, also known as cyanobacteria, through a visual inspection of the pond. Algae blooms such as this may produce toxins that can make people and pets sick.

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Animals

Photos: Look Who’s Swimming in Jamaica Pond

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Recently Kim Ribeiro took a walk around Jamaica Pond and look who she saw swimming -- a muskrat. Muskrats are native to North America, but aren't commonly seen. Their tails are actually covered in scales, not fur, and they can swim underwater up to 17 minutes, according to wikipedia. Muskrats probably get their name comes from a word of Algonquian (possibly Powhatan) origin, literally means "it is red", or from the Abenaki native word mòskwas, which is in the archaic English name for the animal, musquash, according to wikipedia. The name stuck because of its musky odor, which the muskrat uses to mark its territory.

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History

Jamaica Plain Historical Society Historic Walking Tours Start May 22

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The 26th season of the free Jamaica Plain Historical Society neighborhood tours are kicking off May 22. The tours are a great way to learn more about Monument Square, the Woodbourne neighborhood, Jamaica Pond, and more. "I like helping people discover more about the history of the places they visit each day. People pass by the colonial milestones in JP zillions of times without knowing they are there and what they are," said JPHS President Gretchen Grozier. "But once someone takes a tour they learn more, and hopefully, are curious to continue learning more about the rich and wonderful history of Jamaica Plain."

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From the Community

Check Out a Virtual Tour of the Curley House on March 23

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The Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s recently expanded offices at the former home of Boston Mayor James Michael Curley, one of Boston’s most notable (and notorious) mayors. And they're giving you the opportunity to check out it out -- virtually. Although the Conservancy’s staff have been working remotely for the past year, they can’t keep this historically rich landmark overlooking Jamaica Pond to themselves any longer. The Curley house, located at 350 Jamaicaway, is situated just across the street from Jamaica Pond, the largest standing body of water in the Emerald Necklace park system. The 21-room, neo-Georgian mansion is registered as a historical landmark in Boston, however, the conservancy has not made any notable changes.

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History

Historical Society Leading (Real Life) Walking Tours of Stony Brook, Hyde Square, Jamaica Pond and More

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The Jamaica Plain Historical Society is leading four real life walking tours during the next four weekends. The hourlong tours are on Saturdays . The tour schedule is as follows: Stony Brook; Hyde Square; Green Street; and Jamaica Pond. JPHS has had to adapt their tours to modern pandemic times. "Luckily, the tours are all outside and that also makes things safer.

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Animals

Photos: Beautiful Black-Crowned Night-Heron at Jamaica Pond

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Check out a rare sighting of a black-crowned night-heron that was photographed by a local resident at Jamaica Pond.  

Ben Achtenberg provided Jamaica Plain News with these photos of the black-crowned night-heron he recently spotted at the pond. Here are several facts about them from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology:

They are not on the national endangered birds list. All migratory birds are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. The North American Waterbird Conservation Plan says they are a species of moderate concern
As their name indicates, they feed mostly at nighttime through dawn
They are the most widespread heron in the world

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Animals

Photos: Wow! Blue Heron Caught a Big Catfish at Jamaica Pond

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Nature abounds in Jamaica Plain. For example check out the amazing fishing expedition a local resident captured at Jamaica Pond. "My husband and I saw this blue heron eating a catfish. It took a long time but the heron did manage to swallow the whole thing," wrote Dianne MacPherson-Laffey on the Jamaica Pond: Sightings, Stories, & Snapshots from an Urban Oasis Facebook page. MacPherson-Laffey said the heron caught the catfish on the Perkins Street side of the pond.

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Transportation

Francis Parkman Drive Between Perkins St. & Arborway Closed Indefinitely to Vehicles

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Seemingly to reduce crowds and limit exposure to each other around Jamaica Pond, vehicles are indefinitely banned from driving on Francis Parkman Drive between Perkins Street and the Arborway. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation opened segments of four parkways in the Greater Boston metro area to expand pedestrian and cyclist access. DCR said shutting out vehicles from the four parkways will reduce close contact of park users, and large concentrations of people on adjacent sidewalks and paths. The four parkways are as follows:

William J. Day Boulevard in Boston (from Farragut Road to Shore Drive including Castle Island Parking) – open indefinitely;
Francis Parkman Drive between Perkins Street and the Arborway in the City of Boston (Jamaica Plain) – open indefinitely;
Greenough Boulevard (Little Greenough) between Arsenal Street and North Beacon Street in the Town of Watertown – open indefinitely; and,
Fellsway West between Sheepfold Park in the Town of Stoneham and Parkway Park in the City of Medford – open weekends only (dawn to dusk).  

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Animals
The White Squirrel of Jamaica Pond, circa August 2007

Video: White Squirrel Spotted at Jamaica Pond

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In Jamaica Plain we love our white squirrels! Recently another one of the rare rodents was seen at their favorite local haunt of Jamaica Pond. Cari Brennen took this video of a white squirrel at Jamaica Pond in November 2019 and shared it with Jamaica Plain News. Through the years there have been a concentration of white squirrels seen at Jamaica Pond and in Boston Common. The white squirrel is usually a morph of an Eastern Grey Squirrel, according to untamedscience.com.

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City Services

Check Out The Improvements to Jamaica Pond Thanks to The Pathways Project

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The city is celebrating the $4.7 million in improvements to the pathways and perimeter to Jamaica Pond on Nov. 23 -- and if you haven't seen it yet -- check out the photos. Mayor Marty Walsh and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department will be celebrating the culmination of the Jamaica Pond Pathways Project at noontime. The improvements include increased accessibility, new benches, new trees, new exercise equipment, upgrades to pathways and entrances, as well as improved drainage to protect water quality. During the ceremony the Jamaica Pond Boathouse will be named in honor of Christine Cooper.

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