I recently entered the construction area at Levingston Cove at Crystal Lake to check the rumors that it is designed to deter swimmers. I can confidently report that the rumors are correct. The boulders — uneven, sharp, with dangerous protrusions – create a wall of sorts between the formal path and the water edge. The ribbon of open space between the boulder wall and the water edge is covered with coarse pebble gravel, and so are the spaces between the boulders.
I conducted two experiments. I pretended to be a swimmer trying to get from the formal path to the water; and pretended to come to the shore after swimming. I had two choices for approaching the water: to hop from bounder to boulder; or to carefully walk on the very small patches of gravel between the boulders. Both required agility and a fine sense of balance, and were dangerous. When I pretended to come to shore from the water, I was forced to stand on one foot at a time in order to put my shoes on, as it was impossible to take even a couple of steps on that gravel.
Livingston Cove is an accident waiting to happen. If no changes are made, the City should be prepared to be sued by some badly hurt persons. And you can forget about having your children play at the Cove. It is not too late to remove the boulders and gravel and to create a walkable safe access to the water edge. The City should do it as soon as possible in order to gain the residents’ trust that it acts on their behalf.
Halina Brown
Newton Highlands
