Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined with Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Thomas Ashe, Aquatics Director Joe Federico, and the Parks Department team on Friday morning for the grand opening of the Swan Boats on Porter Lake. Mayor Sarno, Summer Enrichment Education Coordinator Chiarina (“Chiara) Sarno, and Clifford A. Phaneuf Environmental Center ECOS students Shakah and Ivy hopped in the 4-seater Swan Boat and pedaled around Porter Lake for the inaugural ride this morning.
Earlier this summer, Mayor Sarno and PBRM Director Ashe announced the return of paddle boats, a beloved recreational pastime to Porter Lake inside Forest Park. The new pedal-style Swan Boat rentals are now available for families to enjoy this summer on Saturdays and Sundays. Visit the Parks Department webpage for more information: https://www.springfield-ma.gov/park/
“This a fun, active, and affordable activity for youths and families that we are proud to be able to offer here at our beloved Forest Park. This was also a popular date activity back in the day,” said Mayor Sarno. “I deeply appreciate Director Tom Ashe and team for all the hard work and preparation to bring back the duck boats. It certainly brought a smile to my face this morning to be out there on the water with my daughter Chiara and our students from ECOS – who both did an excellent job today on camera by the way. Special thanks to Aquatics Director Joe Federico and team for keeping us all safe near the water, and John Bilodeau and team for installing the safety barriers. There will be lifeguards on duty and life vests for all passengers down at Porter Lake.”
The students described it as a fun experience seeing and hearing all the birds and nature, and noted how peaceful it was.
Mayor Sarno continued “So many of us cherish fond memories of spending time at Forest Park with family and friends – for me growing up, parks, especially Forest Park, were my ‘Riviera.’ Now we have another exciting way to experience the beauty of Forest Park with this recreational boating experience. You never know what natural wonders you may take in when you visit Forest Park – last time we were here we had a visit from a baby deer, today Bobby from 22 News spotted a little weasel hanging out by the lake. These recreational amenities are important and my administration remains committed to continuing to improve and enhance the enjoyment of our beautiful parks systems and we are extremely proud to that we have invested over $100 million our city-wide park system over the past 17 years. Thank you to Parks Director Tom Ashe and team, the Board of Park Commissioners, and our many partners, as well as all who visit our parks, for your continued stewardship of our park system for the enjoyment of current and future generations.”
PRBRM Director Ashe states, “Parks are an important element for every neighborhood, they provide a respite from city life and offer an essential outlet for passive and active recreation. We are the proud custodians of our city’s 735 acre ‘crown jewel’, Forest Park, and remain committed to making various amenities and recreation opportunities available for our residents throughout the different seasons. We are excited to have folks come down and try the new Swan Boats. There are four boats and each seats up to four people. We will have our specially trained lifeguards on-duty down at Porter Lake and will provide life vests to all riders. I am extremely proud of our entire PBRM team, as it is their diligence and passion that create enjoyable and attractive parks. I would also like to thank Mayor Sarno for his steadfast support of our parks system, and the important outlet it provides for families.”
