Jerry's Pond


Jerry's Pond is an artificial pond created from a clay pit circa 1870 in North Cambridge, Massachusetts. Before being disused, it was known as Jerry's Pit.

History

Jerry's Pit was likely named after Jeremiah McCrehan, a North Cambridge resident and co-owner of the land until 1878 when it was lost due to foreclosure. It was later reopened by the DeRosay family. During this time, it was used as a swimming hole in the neighborhood,. However, several drownings did occur. In the 1940s, the Dewey & Almy Chemical Company purchased the property and spent $5,000 for the city to improve the land for swimming. Swimming remained common there until a pool was built nearby, named after McCrehan's grandson, Frank McCrehan.
After the McCrehan pool was built next to it in 1961, a fence was erected around it and the public was prevented from entering. When the Dewey & Almy Chemical Company, now merged with W. R. Grace and Company, owned the land, many toxic chemicals were used including Polycyclic [aromatic hydrocarbon|PAHs], naphthalene, and asbestos as a part of a brake development program.
In 1995, in response to a developer's proposal, neighbors formed the , which is devoted to
  • Ensuring an inclusive, participatory process on quality of life issues to mitigate the risks of hazardous waste such as asbestos, flooding, and the protection of habitats and natural resources.
  • Researching and communicating our findings to all stakeholders.
  • Outreaching to neighbors to learn their concerns and hopes and then advocating.
In 2015, a group was formed to restore the site called Friends of Jerry’s Pond along with Mass Audubon, , and Green Cambridge. The group also works with young people of the area alongside the city's mayor's employment program. The group hosts an annual cleanup day known as Jerry's PondFest. However, due to the toxic chemicals found in the soil, concerns arose mainly regarding the asbestos. Since it was buried deep in the soil, the asbestos posed no immediate danger to the public, but if it was disturbed by those restoring the park, it could pose a threat to the safety of those around it. Concerns were raised regarding environmental justice because of the high density of affordable housing in the Alewife neighborhood. In 2020, the site was purchased from W. R. Grace by IQHQ, a real estate developer for $125 million. In April 2023, the company committed to opening up the land for public use. In March 2024, the project got approval from the Cambridge Conservation Commission, and opening was expected in summer 2025.