Description of Parcel

The East Boston Camps parcel contains about 287 acres.  It is bounded on the south by the Boston and Maine rail line for a distance of about 1900 feet.  It is bounded on the west by Stony Brook which runs in a northwesterly direction for about 5000 feet.  It is bounded on the north by a Massachusetts Electric right of way, formerly the “car line” which was the trolley line to Lowell from Forge Village, about 2600 feet.  The main easterly boundary is Keyes Brook which flows in a southeast direction from Keyes pond and joins Stony Brook at the rail line on the southern border, a distance of about 6000 feet.

There are two parcels to the east of Keyes brook, one which has 360 feet of frontage on Nutting Road between numbers 58 and 68 and contains about 29 acres, mostly of fields.  This parcel is proposed to be used for athletics fields and is called parcel B in the Town Meeting vote.  There is another parcel that abuts Depot Street, between numbers 86 and 92, containing about 2 acres with about 100 feet of frontage on Depot Street.  This parcel is well treed with large boulders and appears to be of little value or use including access to the main parcel.

The main parcel between the two brooks is covered with a forest of mature pines and oaks on eskers.  The forest is quite open with limited undergrowth due to continuing harvesting of dead trees for firewood.  There are several trails throughout this parcel and two roads which lead to three camps.  The camps consist of a girl’s camp, Wakitatina, a boy’s camp, Nashoba, and a day camp, Cielo Celeste.  The boy’s and girl’s camps contain several overnight cabins, dining hall, counselor cabins and a beach on Burge’s Pond.  The camps are currently operated by the East Boston Social Center and serve about 350 campers each year.  These camps are also rented out to other groups when they are not in use as camps.  These camps are served by electricity, telephone and town water.

In the center of this parcel there is the 19 acre Burge’s Pond.  The boy’s and day camps are on the east side and the girl’s camp is on the west side, each with a beach.  This pond is used for camp recreation, fishing and skating in the winter.

The site contains a certified vernal pool, rare species habitat, several wildlife and flora species.  It is used by town’s people for recreation including dog walking, running, cycling, fishing and walking

Throughout the public meeting process prior to the purchase of East Boston Camps, many citizens spoke with a common voice asking to have the property remain “AS IS.”

Before this committee can make any recommendation to the citizen’s of Westford, a baseline analysis must be undertaken.

With ownership comes care and custody responsibility and the EBC Master Planning committee will begin its work by obtaining a solid understanding of what “as is” really means.