Today's beach goer's encounter

[WhitePond]

The daily run around local area (Whitepond, railroad tracks, rte. 117 & surrounding watershed), typically involves encounters with those accessing the pond from TOWN OWNED land for their swim through a labyrinth of ad-hoc trails and those trails that are not so 'ad-hoc'.

Of particular destructive note worthiness is the 20 foot wide by 300 foot long downhill access corridor from 'Frost Farm' condos, to the pond- a former illegal 'egress' for those in Subdury who still retain it's use despite signage clearly illustrating 'private residence' and 'no trespassing' and despite the outrage of owners who have all but given up calling the police.

But what's in a sign anyways?

Today (Sunday), it was the typical run around the state police barracks which abut the Frost Farm condos (ironic in it's proximity to the epicenter of this overt trespassing to facilitate an illegal swim isn't it?), where I observed upwards of twenty (20) vehicles, their patrons toting the usual array of flotation devices, coolers, chairs, towels and 6 packs of beer, parked along side the fence separating the private ('Residence Only') condos from the business use parking areas.

Having observed all 'patrons' enter the private condo's road, and subsequently 250 feet to said 'corridor', in order to get to White Pond, I asked one teenage couple the following:

So, can I get to White Pond from here?
Answer: Yes

Isn't this a private residence?
Answer:Yes, but it's conservation land, so anyone can enter.

What are the 'Private' and 'No Tresspassing' signs there for then? I've seen very upset owners.
Answer: 'Don't know'.

So, are there restrooms then? I've been running for a while.
Answer: No

So, where do all the people go to the bathroom?
Answer: 'Everywhere' (i am not joking)

Well, I'd hardly call that 'conservation', would you?
Answer: 'No' (giggles)

Well, there ya have it..... More of the same antics from WhitePond and it's 900 linear feet of unmanaged, unsupervised & neglected shoreline the town of Concord's 'paid' to protect and enforce.

Side note: Many of the white 'Protect White Pond' signs with a link to whitepond.org within this corridor from Sachem's Cove & leading up to the void of any literature kiosk located @ the Frost Farm condos have been ripped down, their remains as visible as the trash brought in by the pond's 'patrons'......

[tanyamb]

Dear "Whitepond",

I have only seen White Pond from afar (so far), I have not yet gone anywhere on its shores, I have not yet discovered the routes and paths you are describing.

I also wholeheartedly endorse and congratulate all actions to keep it clean, healthy, and beautiful.

I have enjoyed Walden for many years, which, yes, is unfortunately getting
dirtier and murkier day by day, year by year, with obviously not enough being done to control its use or maintain its health.

That said, ponds are ponds, people are people, and on a hot day some need a swim.

This website, IMHO, not only garners support for White Pond, it also whets people's appetite (such as comments on the increasingly warm waters of the pond), and comments like the above actually describe ways to get there for the uninitiated!!

I would ideally like to see a town wide-- even state wide-- coalition that works on regulating the use of both White Pond and Walden Pond, which makes both accessible to all in equal amount, which works on improving water and shore quality for both, which actively educates their users every time.

All this private property emphasis can make a lot of people simply angry. (Natural, though, it is to be upset about strangers trampling, picnicking, peeing all over one's backyard -- but then, they are not there for the backyard.) It can also deflect attention from the more idealistic and more public spirited intentions and efforts of White Pond supporters.

How horrible would it be to have a well regulated public beach? WOULD it turn into Walden? CAN something be done for Walden, too, while also allowing regulated legal public use of White Pond??

Sharing my sincere reactions...

Best regards..

[WhitePond]

As an addendum to this thread, a former one discussing ongoing discussions (WPAC & Sudbury) to reel this in may be found here:

http://www.whitepond.org/showthread.php?t=172

[Laurie C]

Hi, I have read the current posts. The one about someone out front of our PRIVATE ROAD AT FROST FARM VILLAGE HIT the point square on. Those people coming down our road to get to White Pond are a bunch of ignorant self-absorbed creeps who don't give a care about anyone but themselves. Am I angry, you bet I am. We have gotten help from Cummings Properties to erect a new berm, put trees on it, and the town of Sudbury has cleared all the grass from the outer conservation area (which is definitely not a part of our condo neighborhood). Now that we know those teenagers and others who are using the cement filled bucket w/a stop sign in it to dump their ill gotten (under-age) beer cans purchased no doubt with phony I.D. cards think our road is open territory because of (conservation land) are a bunch of liars. I'm starting to call the police again. Our town conservation officer Debbie Dineen just does not care about us or White Pond. She hasn't bothered to do her job lately at all. We have had vandalism in the form of pulling down signs from our property, also. That all stops NOW!! Cummings company is erecting a new bldg. Those little creeps in their zeal to go swim and mess up a beautiful pond whiz up here right by the workers. I get out there and take down numbers of cars and jeeps all the time. They still come back. Well now they are going to start having their vehicles towed!

[vics]

Laurie;

We fashioned several white 'Protect White Pond' signs on that 'egress' as well as @ the kiosk (the empty one, void of any literature) as a means of coercing some sort of responsibility. They were immediately destroyed.

A prior thread here, illustrates emails & phone numbers of those associated with the Frost Farm development.

What can we on the pond do to assist?
Thanks.

Originally Posted by Laurie C

Hi, I have read the current posts. The one about someone out front of our PRIVATE ROAD AT FROST FARM VILLAGE HIT the point square on. Those people coming down our road to get to White Pond are a bunch of ignorant self-absorbed creeps who don't give a care about anyone but themselves. Am I angry, you bet I am. We have gotten help from Cummings Properties to erect a new berm, put trees on it, and the town of Sudbury has cleared all the grass from the outer conservation area (which is definitely not a part of our condo neighborhood). Now that we know those teenagers and others who are using the cement filled bucket w/a stop sign in it to dump their ill gotten (under-age) beer cans purchased no doubt with phony I.D. cards think our road is open territory because of (conservation land) are a bunch of liars. I'm starting to call the police again. Our town conservation officer Debbie Dineen just does not care about us or White Pond. She hasn't bothered to do her job lately at all. We have had vandalism in the form of pulling down signs from our property, also. That all stops NOW!! Cummings company is erecting a new bldg. Those little creeps in their zeal to go swim and mess up a beautiful pond whiz up here right by the workers. I get out there and take down numbers of cars and jeeps all the time. They still come back. Well now they are going to start having their vehicles towed!

[WhitePond]

The location of Sudbury's private/ residence only, Frost Farm condos relative to Concord's White Pond: And the second image illustrating where pond goers park, their entrance point(s) etc: (click on each thumbnail to expand)