The Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a community meeting at the Newton Free Library on Weds. May 30 at 7 p.m. to discuss potential designs for renovating the park at Levingston Cove at Crystal Lake.
The potential designs can be viewed here
A new look for Crystal Lake’s Levingston Cove
by Greg Reibman | May 18, 2018 | Crystal Lake, Newton Highlands, parks | 6 comments
Lovely. This will just encourage MORE illegal swimming.
@TheWholeTruth – Frankly, I fail to see how that is a bad thing. The organized beach on Crystal Lake is overcrowded, and the bathhouse is filthy. If the city wants to discourage illegal swimming, they could try to make their facilities better instead of having police come and yell at anyone that’s swimming at Levingston.
Two summers ago the days were very hot and dry. I was pleasantly surprised about swimming at Chrystal Lake. For years swimming wasn’t allowed outside the city recreational swim area. The parking lot much too tiny was always full.
So I ventured over hoping to cool off and swim the lake. So many young families were there enjoying the out door play. What a relief for people unable to travel outside the city. What a special place Newton has always been.
Yes, the ecology count must be measured but so many people need this wonderful opportunity in very hot weather.
@DF,
For the record, the only LEGAL area to swim at Crystal Lake is the city beach area. Swimming at Levingston Cove and at Cronin’s Cove is not allowed. You can argue this until the cows come home but for now, it’s illegal. Now, the fact is that people are ignoring the law because they don’t like it. People are breaking the law and teaching their children that it’s okay to break the law if you don’t like the law. Personally, I do not believe that Crystal Lake can sustain the kind of use it has been getting over the last several years. There have been numerous studies and arguments on both sides of this issue. But again, as it stands right now, swimming in areas other than the City beach area is against the law.
I walk around Crystal Lake at least once a week all year round. When there is snow or ice, it is often impossible to walk through Levingston Cove because the sidewalks are not cleared. I think the existing railing along the sidewalk makes the walkway too narrow for sidewalk plows to pass.
I hope the new design will fix this.
I was just sitting at the cove this morning enjoying the breeze and the view, There were four people fishing and many more walking by. The cove is well used. I appreciate that some “improvements” may be needed to protect against erosion and maintain the area. I just really hope the city doesn’t “over-engineer’ the area. The more natural the better.