The beach at Freeman lake was managed separately from the park, and successfully for many years.. Id's were checked at the gate, for residents only. Considering all the issues with non-residents, the threatening behavior toward residents, families, small children, constant trash, parking issues that block the street so emergency vehicles cannot pass, vandalism, overcrowding in the extreme, and on and on, why can't this be managed better? Lifeguards were threatened last year. Many residents have called on issues for years. The selectmen were all contacted. This situation gets worse and worse. If you don't live in this neighborhood, you should be paying attention. The way this situation is being handled could be coming to your neighborhood. Would you like a barroom brawl 20 feet from your doorstep, for your young children to hear and see? Go visit on a hot weekend afternoon, but don't go alone. Watch the stop signs, because it seems to be a game to speed faster through the stop signs in the area. I've never seen a town that allows this type of mismanagement. How much does it cost for the police calls, fire department calls ? They all come out of your taxes.

I would like to know why residents of Chelmsford can't use a boat in Heart Pond anymore, only if you live on the lake and are in the association. It seems strange that if you pay taxes in town you can't use the boat ramp or the lake for a small boat anymore, but if you don't even live in town you can use the beach...

Hart Pond is considered a "Great Pond" in Massachusetts. Anyone in Massachusetts can use this pond, for canoeing, fishing, etc. I believe that no motorized boats can be used. There should be an access to the pond and I believe there was a dock for that purpose at one time. Unfortunately the access to that dock was at the end of Pond St (?) and town meeting voted to make this street for residents only. Bad vote in retrospect.
I remember Crystal Lake, now Freeman Lake. When it was for residents only. Was it after it flooded and a new dam was needed and the town accepted funds from state? it had to be open to public. Perhaps more research on this is needed.

Things change without notice sometimes. Like, why did Adams Library become Chelmsford Library?

There are motorized boats allowed on the pond, and have always been able to use the ramp near the beach for years. I went to Kate's Corner to get the key for the gate and was told that it for association members only now, no one else is allowed. I would love to be able to put a small motor boat in the water there and take the kids fishing for the day...it doesn't seem fair

The boat ramp is closed and only to be used by CFD and by someone who needs emergency access on or off the pond ( and can't use a private access). If it is used for any other reason we report this to town hall. Any boat that can be carried in (some people have wheels they use for bass boats) can use the beach side with the small dock to put in and take out boats. So far this year I know of no one using the boat ramp. lots of Bass boats and canoes are on the water all the time. As for Freeman it is above a town water source so no motor boats are allowed only electric.

See chapter 91 mass reg. Of waterways. Great ponds are open to public.

http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/about01.htm

I do not see anything the town does not meet.... am i missing something?

Hart Pond is/should be open to the public.

As I have said the boat ramp is closed and is not being used by anyone. The parking lot is small and with the Rail Trail and all the kids the last thing we need is big boat trailers backing up and taking up all the parking area for residents. A ton of large speed boats coming and going from the lot would be a nightmare. If people feel it should be open then bring it up before the BOS. I personally would like to see the road closed during the summer. Most of the time you do not see any boats except canoes and bass boats on the pond and its quiet and peaceful. I kind of like it that way. Opening the boat ramp would just cause more trouble than its worth and bring problems to this quiet Chelmsford beach but that's just my personal opinion.

Back when I was a TM Rep I inquired about the lack of ramp use during the vote on cleaning up the weeds in Heart Pond. We were told then that the ramp is closed and can only be used by CFD and other authorities. If you want to use a boat in the pond it has to be ported across the beach. My comments at the time are the same today. It is basically impossible to carry a boat across the sand with a motor. I'd love to fish Heart Pond with my little aluminum boat/20 hp engine but it's impossible to carry. At the end of last season I witnessed multiple lakefront owners taking their boats out of the water for the season via the CFD ramp. Until the ramp opens up to the public Heart Pond will remain basically a private lake for motor boating purposes.

Did Cfc give permission for those homeowners to use ramp?

Patrick I see people using these type of devices all the time at Heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjlK1IshnUc

an extra wide space between the rocks on the left is designed for easy access for Bass sized boats. Their are about a half dozen different boats using this method. This link is just an example but lots of other people make these and some people make them from wood and a set of wheels. Hope this helps.

Phil: Thanks for the info. I'll check out the video when I get home

Karen: Sorry but I don't know the answer as to getting permission. Not sure about last year but a few years back there was actually two locks. I wonder if one was for fire/police and the other was for residents on the lake.

Didn't Heart Pond get treated for invasive weeds by Lycott recently?
My lake association only allows canoes, kayaks, boats,..etc. owned by its members. We feel these water crafts will not introduce any new weeds/parasites into our lake and the lake annually treated by Lycott. Each craft has id sticker and Security is very strict on this rule. Man-made lake is stocked with trout, the association treats our water source as a treasure.
Shouldn't the Town have some restrictions on the swimming holes? Add security on the busier days? Boat stickers?

Hart pond is a great pond in mass. By definition it is open to the public.

Heart Pond could be beautiful but instead it always seems to be trashed by out of towners.. Its a big bummer!! The landscaping is non existant, the picnic benches are falling apart, no where to speak of to launch a boat or canoe and people fishing where you're not supposed to. It's sad we pay ridiculously high taxes and none of seems to be spent on keeping up these areas. Perhaps Chelmsford should take a look at Long Lake in Littleton. Its pristine, open to all, but you have to purchase a sticker in order to park there ( residents get a discount). Maybe if people had to pay to use the area, they would be more respectful of their surroundings. Just a thought..

Jules I am not sure what Heart pond you are talking about but its not the one here in town. It is not trashed but picked up every day and trash removed from the site. New Trees were planted last year to g along with the bushes from the year before. A boat launch was installed a few weeks ago as part of an Eagle Scout project. This goes along with the Eagle scout project of the Kiosk and Bike rack. I will post pictures here that were shot today about 6 pm.

Cant seem to post them here so they are here
https://www.facebook.com/ChelmsfordOSS#!/media/set/?set=a.10151908375650506.878988.189440475505&type=1

Jules, I agree with Phil. I don't know what Heart pond you are referring to but it is not the one in Chelmsford. There ae 4 picnic table that are in great condition, Swings, a new launch for canoes and kayaks installed, nice bike rack, Portable toilet, Nice cherry trees that were donated and planted, A fantastic Plaque mounted on a nice natural stone, the grass gets cut and trash removed. How do you conclude that it is trashed by out of towners? Have you gone through the trash..Don't think so because I am the one who disposes of the trash and keeps the grounds clean.....If you want you can meet me at 8am on Saturday to cut the grass, trim the weeds, cut some limbs, empty the trash and rake out the beach...I will have extra tools there waiting for you..... 8AM sharp....Doubt you will show up. Oh by the way guess what it pays...$0. Have to love those that complain and sit back in their chairs not willing to lift a hand

The Chelmsford town beaches like the other recreational areas in the town should be open to the public, all of the public. Why? Because this is America. Imagine the Boston Parks & Recreation Dept saying that the Boston playgrounds, public swimming pools, baseball fields, basketball courts, Frog Pond, Boston Commons, must be for Boston residents only and you need to show proof of residency or get a paid sticker at city hall. Too elitist, snobbish, unamerican and provincial for my American taste. Boston just picked the trash up and paid for the police details so out-of-towners could enjoy the entertainment at the Explanade, Fourth of July. I went over to Lowell, Sampras Stage to watch the fire works, listen to the entertainment, fireworks, paid for by the City of Lowell. No fascist asked me for a Town issued ID, or told me to leave , blamed the trash on me,etc. Let's not go down that road, please.

You obviously don't live in the vicinity of these beaches. if out-of towners were respectful of their surroundings, this would not have been an issue. There is a lack of respect for taxpayers and owners. The streets are so overparked, that you can barely fit one car through. It is near impossible to get into your own driveway. the filthy language and behavior are shocking and unacceptable. Dirty diapers on the street, with lots of other disgusting trash. Why use a bathroom, whip down that bathing suit and go in the lake. There are so many people that the water is standing room only.

You obviously don't live in the vicinity of these beaches. if out-of towners were respectful of their surroundings, this would not have been an issue. There is a lack of respect for taxpayers and owners. The streets are so overparked, that you can barely fit one car through. It is near impossible to get into your own driveway. the filthy language and behavior are shocking and unacceptable. Dirty diapers on the street, with lots of other disgusting trash. Why use a bathroom, whip down that bathing suit and go in the lake. There are so many people that the water is standing room only.

used condoms and drug deal waste on your curb. The speeding through stop signs, filthy language, fights, throwing each other out of cars, is literally 20 feet from your door. Why don't our town officials do anything for the taxpayers and owners ? I can't find any other beach - anywhere - with no restrictions, no cost. Bring on the facist id-checkers. We'll host them in style if we get our neighborhood back. If you want to create a public entertainment center, do it in an public venue, not in a small residential area.

Have those of you who see these terrible things happen kept a log so you can present solid data to the Town? That would be very helpful in making your case for more policing or other measures.

Something like:
June 3, 9pm: loud gathering of teenagers with beer bottles
June 15: 4pm, out for a walk, saw condoms and syringes on the beach. Still there the next day.

etc.

Just wondering, how can people have such DIFFERENT opinions of the conditions of the beaches? Some talk about beautiful cherry trees, some talk about fights and syringes.

Is one beach far better than the other?

The two beaches are very different Varney is in a dense neighborhood and is part of a park and home to the baseball fields a large playground a basketball court and 2 tennis courts. Heart pond is just a small beach and 1 set of swings and a small park with a much larger parking lot.

I'd be happy to take some pictures and/or keep a log of what I see. My comments were not meant as personal attack on any groundskeepers- NO need to get nasty!
Maybe I just caught it on a couple of bad days..Next time you're in the area--compare it to Long Lake in LIttleton.. where a small fee could make all the difference.

Is the Chelmsford PD still understaffed and unable to appropriately patrol these beaches? And is cleaning up such a heavily used public beach too much to ask of any volunteer?

When the police do go at Varney, they go down to the arch turn around and leave. They don't get out of the car and take a walk to the beach area or play ground. When the drug activity is mostley happening, (night time after 8) there is no police presents at all. I know that they can't be everywhere, but they know what's going on up there, they should be able to take care of it.

There is a volunteer who picks up the trash. He goes around the area at least once a week. The trash at the park isn't the problem. When you have a volunteer who asks people not to throw trash and bottles on the ground, then gets threatened with an object, that's part of the problem. And I think we all know what kind of people where talking about here. If the beach was in a public area, then fine, but it isn't. It's in a residential neighborhood. CHECK ID'S - CHELMSFORD ONLY!!!!!!!

Oreo Trash is picket up al least once a day at both beaches. Both beaches have police coverage and Varney has police WALK the site a ton of times over this summer. I know of zero threats that have happened in years and Heart has never had one. Varney can get busy and they bring in lifeguards as needed and if they need extra volunteers we get a call. We would LOVE to have more people pitch in ... interested?

Hey Phil, I'm not talking about the trash barrels. I mean this guy goes around and picks up trash that people throw on the ground. I'm there watching Legion/Northeast baseball games, and I see a lot of what goes on. During the day is probably fine, but after 8 at night is when there is people there that shouldn't be there. I know you do a great job around town, and you should be commended. And yes I would be interested in volunteering for something at Varney.

Long lake residents $55.00, non residents $135.00, SENIORS OVER 60 $30........Heart pond in Chelmsford..........Priceless

While we're discussing, does anyone here think there should be no smoking at the beaches? I was there last night- cigarette butts all over the place- not sure if those can rake up too well. BTW-The $55 charge for Long Lake in Littleton is for residents, not just Long Lake residents, and you definitely get what you pay for I think..