Photo Gallery: Springtime At Reedy Meadow

I recently took a walk along the Reedy Meadow boardwalk with an eye on assembling a spring-themed photo package. This walk also provided an opportunity to see how the ongoing boardwalk restoration process is going as it makes its way toward Partridge Island.

Much of the plant life is still in the process of growing in for the season, so these images capture Reedy Meadow as it appears for a relatively short time of the year.  The terrain is marshy and thick with wetland vegetation and random trees, and beyond one's easy field of view are likely many different types of birds on any given day.

As you'll see, some of the photos depict the remaining old part of the boardwalk. The temptation to brave the rotten, half-sunken timbers and forge on to Partridge Island was huge - but carrying a company-issued digital camera apparently makes one think twice about moves like that.

Still, Partridge Island is tantalizingly close (no more than 150 feet) to the end of the new boardwalk. The ruins of the old boardwalk remain in between. In the coming months, Lynnfield residents can look forward to once again being able to take a short, easy hike out along the Reedy Meadow boardwalk to Partridge Island.

An Emerging Litter Problem

Unfortunately, this week notes that there is also something of a litter problem emerging along portions of the boardwalk, particularly around the area where the bench is. A number of plastic sports drink bottles  and a few beer containers can be seen floating in the muck and water, thrown out well beyond easy reach of most conventional litter pickup methods.

More Background Information

In December, freelancer Jonathan Pickering provided on the town's boardwalk renovation project. Pickering also spoke with the Mass. Audubon Society for this spring focusing on the area's significance to birdwatchers and as a waterfowl habitat.