2025 Park Photos

Winter leaves the park quiet and colorless, but memories of autumn’s brilliant maples, willows, and birches brighten the cold days. Soon, spring buds will return and fill the park with color once again. Laura Kiesel spent hours last October rescuing this juvenile, black-crowned night heron at Spy Pond, untangling the unfortunate bird from discarded fishing line. The black-crowned night heron was wrapped up in multiple layers of fishing line and had no less than six hooks in her body--3 on her wing, and 3 in her leg. Karen Grossman displayed the results of her 1 ½ hour search for litter throughout Spy Pond Park on the October 19th Work Day as part of her “Reverse Tashlich” involvement with the Mystic River Watershed and Tikkun Hayam. As they carted the wheelbarrows full of leaves to the bikepath embankment, the ground at Linwood Beach became visible again. This photo finish marked the end of 2024 Work Days for the Stewardship Team, Lally Stowell(l), Adrienne Landry and Diana Maggini (m), and Sharon Green (r), with Jenny Babon, Outreach Chair (2nd l) and Karen L. Grossman, President (2nd r).
Spiders were busy spinning their webs in October. Paw friends took a stroll on frozen Spy Pond. A young on-looker was inspired by the pick-up ice hockey game near the Boys and Girls Club. Siblings experienced the sun’s last hurrah over the ice on Spy Pond. Chris set up his fishing pole and drilled a hole in the ice with his shanty set up behind him. Chris explained setting up his ice fishing pole.
The beauty of snow falling in SPP December 2024 Spy Pond ice returned in January 2025 after a 2-year absence! The FSPP was grateful to have use of the Mystic River Watershed Association’s headquarters space for our potluck and Annual Meeting space in which our members selected food from the potluck table. (l-r) Marshall McCloskey, former Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Beautification Committee/Stewardship Team member and Susan Saw, current Treasurer, enjoyed themselves at the FSPP Annual Meeting, January 12, 2025. (l-r) Betsy Leondar-Wright, Park Activities Chair, and Jenny Babon, Communications and Outreach Co-Chair were happy to see one another at the FSPP potluck dinner before the speakers’ presentation and the Annual Meeting. FSPP members gathered to share a potluck dinner and view the speakers’ presentation at the Mystic River Watershed Association’s office before the 2025 Annual Meeting.
Kathryn Davies and David Morgan discussed “Arlington’s Plan Integrating Nature and Community” before the FSPP 2024/25 Annual Meeting. Mengting “Coco” Guo attended nearly every 2024 Saturday Work Day, always ready to help with any task until it was finished. She also volunteered at eight other parks in the Mystic River Watershed, showing remarkable dedication and generosity with her time. Lisa Reynolds has long been a dedicated Friend of Spy Pond Park, generously using her expertise to remove poison ivy and help keep the park safe and beautiful. Dog walking on Spy Pond ice-covered snow with a baby on board A snowy outlook over ice covered Spy Pond in February 2025 A lonely snowperson may have been thinking “land ho!”
The sunshine through the haze didn’t warm the fishers who were prepared to duck into their red shanty in the cold, February weather. Robbins Library FSPP March 2025 display Christopher Wilson wades in the water at the edge of Spy Pond Park to remove fishing line caught in the trees. These items Christopher found were improperly discarded and presented a clear danger to wildlife. Willow horizontal branch Willow trunk holes, good hiding and nesting spaces
Swamp milkweed, a plant toxic to dogs, but host for monarch butterflies and nectar source Invasive Garlic Mustard Tree of heaven, is an invasive species also toxic to dogs. It aggressively outcompetes native plants, damages infrastructure, and can act as a host for the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that can cause significant agricultural damage. Volunteers worked in the planting beds. Olivia, our youngest May 17th volunteer, swept errant wood chips to groom the playground. FSPP’s weed rooter came in handy for removing some prolific invasive root systems.
People Making a Difference® always brings specific tools for trimming the bushes off Linwood Circle from the water and in SPP. Thanks to People Making a Difference® for their hard work this year trimming bushes so visitors can enjoy the view of Spy Pond and the wildlife. A blue heron watched People Making a Difference® trimming the bushes so visitors could see him. The beautiful view of Spy Pond after PMD® volunteers completed their work trimming the bushes on both sides, from the water and in the park The poster Kari Percival designed attracted much interest at our Town Day booth and on our Work Days in the park. The colorful poster designed by Jenny Babon, FSPP Co-Chair for Communications and Outreach, advertised Fun Day for 3 weeks prior to Fun Day.
Children lined up at the face-painting station where FSPP volunteers painted colorful rainbows, butterflies, and creative designs on happy faces like for twins (l-r) Adeline and Aileen. Betsy Leondar-Wright, Park Activities Chair, Jan and Sarah Hager, kept children engaged with scavenger hunts, puzzles, and fun prizes—bringing curiosity and smiles to participants. Learning about nature up close, Olivia explored barred owls with a book and a cuddly owl friend at the children’s activity table. Latoya and Simone Steinbrink enjoyed a special play area filled with toys and ride-on animals, making it a fun and safe spot just for them. Colorful toy representatives of nature entertained toddlers and adults sprawled out on the tarp. As the girl listened intently, Diana Maggini and her mother gave instructions for leaf printing.
Jan Ionzaric and Sarah Hager were totally amused at the answers the puzzle solvers and game players offered. While her bunny prize waited by Lucia’s side, she colored in other animals that frequent Spy Pond Park. The children let their creativity shine as they crafted enchanting fairy houses with vibrant materials and imaginative designs as Leah Cirker-Stark, the Fairy Lady, offered her encouraging guidance. Adeline, Aileen, and Michelle covered boxes to entice fairies into the beautiful houses. Ana Marques (l) faithfully documented people’s names in the images the photographers captured at all the activities around the park. Alan and Caleb Yang worked together building a bark boat, turning nature into a hands-on craft activity.
Brad Barber watched as families gathered at the water’s edge to test their handmade bark boats seeing if they could stand the might of Spy Pond. Ella and Stephanie G. attached the sail to the bark boat. This clay might be useful in building my bark boat. People gathered around Brad Barber launching bark boats at North Beach and learning how to use a Secchi Disc to assess water quality. Jade S. was transformed into a fierce little tiger at the face painting station. The flower Coco painted on Lucia Kelly’s face seemed to have jumped right off her colorful pinafore top.
Coco enjoyed face painting with this patient Friend of Spy Pond Park. Strollers passed through the playground as eager Fun Day participants sought out their favorite playground equipment. She’ll catch you The Lokensgard Blechblaser brass band tooted their horns, filling the park with music, adding energy and joy to everyone’s delight. Monarch Butterfly on Joe-Pye weed at the Park So lovely Monarch Butterfly also on Echinacea (cone flower)
Jenny along with her daughter Olivia Babon and husband Othon Sofianopolis were happy that Jenny’s Fun Day publicity helped to make the festivities such a success. Representing FSPP at Arlington’s Town Day on September 20 were Diana Maggini, Jenny Babon, and high school volunteer Maya Chakrabarty (not pictured Arnav Gupta, Lally Stowell, Sharon Green and Karen L. Grossman). Work Day volunteers Susan and Linda removed invasives among the goldenrod and trimmed the shrubs with guidance from Adrienne Landry of the Stewardship Team. Great blue heron flying across Spy Pond Great blue heron sitting by Spy Pond Green heron looking for fish in Spy Pond
Blue heron on a snag Heron that's probably a juvenile night heron