The Hardy Ponder June 2026

Hardy Pond Association Steward Volunteers - 2026 Update

Who We Are

The Hardy Pond Association (HPA) is a committee of the Waltham Land Trust. It was organized by area residents in 1991 to protect Hardy Pond and its natural environment, recreational resources, and water quality. A group of trained Waltham Land Trust volunteers, the Hardy Pond Stewards , work collaboratively with HPA to further the mission of protecting Hardy Pond’s open spaces.

What We Do

The Stewards work in the wetlands, fields, woodlands, and parks surrounding Hardy Pond to address two main goals. The first is to reduce sediments and pollutants going into the pond (water carrying these elements is known as stormwater). The second goal is to reduce or eliminate invasive plants which both encourages existing native plants, and allows for planting a diverse mix of native plants.

Our Work Schedule

The Hardy Pond stewards began weekly work parties in 2020, working from April into October. Work sites roughly follow the WLT’s Pondside Walkway Trail around the pond (see the trail map https://walthamlandtrust.org/gos-hardy-pond ). Thousands of volunteer hours have been spent in these locations:

●       Graverson and Lazazzero Playgrounds, owned by the City of Waltham

●       The 35 acres of wetlands and woods that form the Hardy Pond Conservation Area, and other city owned sites (Seminole Woods, Mokema Marsh, shoreline on Lakeview Terrace, end of Shore Road, and woods/wetlands along Brook Road)

●       Smith Point and Lakeview Preserve, sites owned by the Waltham Land Trust.

How We Are Organized

Volunteers work for two to three hours on Tuesday mornings at a predetermined site. WLT member and Master Gardener, Betty MacKenzie, organizes and leads the work, in consultation with the Recreation Department, the Hardy Pond Association and the Waltham Land Trust, as needed.

A typical workday will have four to eight Stewards volunteering. Each week a work plan is identified and communicated. Next, planning occurs to assure appropriate tools are on hand, invasive plants that need removed have been identified, supplies are on hand to accomplish proper bagging and disposal of any trash or plant clippings, native plants are transported to the area, placement of native plants are mapped, physical barriers are erected to protect and increase the chance of native plant survival, approved mulching materials are transported and applied, water is transported and applied to keep newly planted and established plants alive, etc.

Project Areas Impacted to Date

●       Brook Road/Plant Road Conservation Area - removal of invasive species

●       Graverson Playground -

○       Native plants rain garden, removal of invasive species, addition of native plants

○       South fence, creation of a native plant border, starting with invasive removal

○       East border, creation of a native plant border, starting with major invasive removal

●       Seminole Path, Mokema Marsh - native plant meadow/seasonal marsh created after it was dug, cleared and replanted by a contractor for the city - invasive monitoring, removal

●       Seminole Path, south of the bridge - invasive plant removal, test area for 3 methods for Japanese knotweed eradication, Norway maple removal by the Waltham Conservation Commission

●       Lakeview Terrace, shore - site preparation for mowing to control invasive plants, with significant invasive plant removal, Ailanthus eradication in progress

●       Smith Point - invasive plant removal and native plant additions, trail maintenance

●       Lakeview Preserve - invasive plant removal and native plant additions, trail maintenance, mowing to control invasive plants

●       Shore Rd paper road and shore - invasive plant removal, native plant additions, informal trail maintenance.

●       Lazazzero Playground -

○       Creation of a pollinator garden next to the baseball field

○       Woodland - removal of poison ivy and invasive plants, developing native plant area

○       Shoreline - removal of invasives and creation of native plant border

Conclusion

The work the Stewards have performed has greatly reduced the volume of invasive plants while allowing room for the planting of a variety of native plants. In addition, these actions have shown success in keeping soil and sediments in place, and providing food and habitat for insects, birds and wildlife. This work has not gone unnoticed by neighborhood residents. Conversations often occur discussing the importance and purpose of keeping Hardy Pond protected and thriving.