knizerJun 21, 2024

#FreshPond has a public 9 hole golf course run by the City of #CambridgeMA

The course is almost 100 years old, and Boston area land usage has changed significantly since then. Some people believe that having a golf course this close to Boston is a critical recreation facility. Some people believe that the ecological impact of golf courses is too high, and that they are a byproduct of a different era.

As we think about changes we need to make to mitigate #Climate change and serve the changing needs of residents, I wonder:

What should the City of Cambridge do with the golf course over the next 25 years? #Boston #MAPoli

Keep the historic golf course as is
2.2%
Reduce course size, re-allocate for other uses
11.1%
Convert to public park/keep as public green space
51.1%
High Density Affordable Housing
35.6%
Poll ended at .
Show threadrednikkiJun 21, 2024
@knizer Ugh. I have so many mixed feelings. We need open space. I hate to think about golf dying (it was my dad's favorite sport to play) and a public course gives everyone access. Golf is still also legitimately a thing where people network, so having a place where anyone can learn would actually be a non-obvious way to help disadvantaged people move forward. (My dad was a refugee, and there is NO DOUBT that the fact that he was also a good golfer helped his career.) But we also really, really need housing.
Show threadknizerJun 21, 2024

@rednikki I mean...if golf goes away tomorrow, by fiat, networking won't stop happening, the path to upward mobility via networking will just shift somewhere else.

Maybe we'll see Upscale Putt-Putt for Executives take its place. Or Bocce or Darts or Curling or Disc Golf. I'm actually sort of excited about what that might look like, you know?

Show threadrednikkiJun 22, 2024
@knizer If we get rid of a public golf course, it just means that people who aren’t rich won’t be able to play. The networking will still happen amongst those who could afford to learn on private courses.
Show threadknizerJun 22, 2024
@rednikki ah, then you’ve persuaded me: we reclaim the private Watertown one first 🤣
Show threadrednikkiJun 22, 2024
@knizer Now THAT is the proper order of things. (It’s bigger too!)
Show threadknizer

@rednikki
Totally could get it done by 2040.

Step 1. Cajole leftists to primary all the seats of Watertown City Council for November 2025, and get a Eco-Socialist City Manager in there, too.

Step 2-5 ?????

Step 6 Climate Change is Solved

Jun 22, 2024 at 4:01amWeb