The Newton Highlands Area Council has been following the handling of development at Levingston Cove and Crystal Lake by the Department of Parks, Recreation & Culture. Members of the Area Council have expressed frustration at the pace of the project and raised concerns that the community has not been sufficiently engaged. At its May 4 meeting, the Area Council focused on an email communication it received from Luis Perez Demorizi, the department’s Director of Parks + Open Space Projects, regarding the placement at Levingston Cove of “natural stones,” which most members believed hinders access to the lake.
According to Mr. Demorizi, Levingston Cove’s design was the result of input from the Crystal Lake Conservancy, Friends of Crystal Lake, other community members and local and state agencies. He noted, “In steering a project that will impact so many, with varying interests and ideas, it is important that the City weigh input for projects like Levingston Cove from everyone, and to coalesce on a project that best meets the needs of our entire community.” Mr. Demorizi’s email was in response to many comments on the Newton Highlands Google Group. In addition, according to Mr. Demorizi, Newton has regularly communicated with the Crystal Lake Conservancy indicating “that the shoreline would be composed of stones set along the shoreline and would be sourced from those existing onsite.” The stones were there to prevent erosion, he explained, noting that “[M]any folks who commented on the project design wanted more substantial modifications here to stop people from accessing the water.” Mr. Demorizi said the Parks and Open Space Department thought the stones would serve as seating options for people at Levingston Cove, “and potentially navigating one’s own way down to the water’s edge,” but that the “stepped series of boulders with no handrail is not a walkway to the water.” He added that the area was not subject to ADA regulations.
In response to Mr. Demorizi’s email, Council members discussed the fact that Levingston Cove has been a popular place for people to sit and enjoy the view or use the location to swim in the lake. They recalled the 2021 plans for the Levingston Cove project (as submitted to and approved by the City Council), which featured flat stones to permit safe access to the water. NHAC Secretary Srdjan Nedeljkovic commented that there was a “tremendous diversity of people using the cove….. We are a welcoming place and this is not. This is the antithesis of what we stand for.” NHAC member Barbara Darnell said that placement of “the natural stone” made access to the water unsafe and was meant to divert people from the water. Council member Robert Fizek, an architect, described the current plan as “hostile.” NHAC President Jeremy Freudberg argued that the Cove design was not discriminatory because no one can swim there. Mr. Nedeljkvic responded that the placement of the stones was an explicit attempt to deny people access to Crystal Lake.
Explaining that people have always been respectful of people’s driveways and the lake, Mr. Nedeljkovic suggested that the Area Council write a letter asking that the rocks be removed. Barbara Darnell seconded the motion. Only Mr. Freudberg voted against writing a letter, which Mr. Nedeljkovic will write on behalf of the NHNAC’s eight members. In a later statement to Fig City News, Mr. Freudberg clarified his “no” vote:
“Because the issue of access to Crystal Lake is so complex, I think it is entirely appropriate to continue with the approved plans and have a separate discussion about access.” However, Mr. Freudberg agreed that “[t]he uneven nature of the installed rocks inconsistent with the approved plans are an unnecessarily dangerous element. This situation should be remedied by installing flat blocks according to the approved plan.”
Mr. Freudberg also reported that while some of the area under construction might be open to the public by mid-July, some of the “natural areas” would not be available to the public until later in the summer because the plantings would require more time.
In a later conversation with Fig City News, Mr. Demorizi noted that the Friends of Crystal Lake, many of whom live across the street from, or in close proximity to, the lake, favored completely blocking off water access at Levingston Cove, while the Crystal Lake Conservancy opposed creating barriers to the shoreline and provided negative feedback concerning the stones. Mr. Demorizi explained that the Crystal Lake Bath House was designated for swimmers, Cronin’s Landing was for boating, and Levingston Cove was meant for fishing. In a discussion with Fig City News, Ms. Darnell explained that it had been impossible to monitor the construction site, which had been blocked from view. Citing safety requirements, Mr Demorizi acknowledged that that people were not allowed to visit the construction site.
Commenting on the development of Levingston Cove project, Councilor Deb Crossley, Chair of the Zoning and Planning Committee of the Newton City Council, said, “A huge majority of people who have engaged in the project over a long time, agree that it will be a wonderful place. The project will contribute to protecting water quality of the lake, keeping it clean and enjoyable for everyone.”
