Henry David Thoreau called White Pond the “gem of the woods”, and with good reason. This beautiful and fragile ecosystem suffered from neglect and over-use for decades. Today, White Pond is recovering thanks to the vision and commitment of the Town of Concord, the White Pond Advisory Committee, and legions of volunteers.
White Pond provides a stunning place for swimming, fishing, and walking the clearly marked trails. This is a delicately balanced environment, though, and visitors are encouraged to follow the list of rules posted at each main entry point. While the rules may seem to limit use, they are vitally important to restoring the ecology of the area.
The northern and southern slopes of White Pond are primarily residential while the eastern end is recreational (fishing from the boat ramp and regulated swimming from the White Pond town beach). The land at the western end, which includes almost one-third of the shoreline, is the only remaining wild area and every effort is being made to preserve this section in its natural state. Thoreau visited White Pond often and frequently gathered sand from the eastern side of the Pond for use in his family’s pencil business. Surely, such a place is worthy of our stewardship.
For more information, please see the special insert in this issue or visit preservewhitepond.org