CPL Nature Club: Fresh Pond Nature Walk (Collins)
Join us for a relaxing walk of Fresh Pond with Park Ranger Amanda Garms! No two weeks are the same in nature, and Amanda will share her insights about what's growing, changing, and blooming in the neighborhood. This walk is not on a paved path. We will walk on uneven terrain, down hills, and over roots.
The meeting location for this walk will be at the Fresh Pond Ranger Station at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway. Temporary parking passes can be provided on request.
Registration is required. This event can only accommodate a certain number of participants. One registration is good for one person. If you do not register, you cannot participate. Those on the waitlist will be contacted if a space becomes available.
Climate Quest with Cambridge Public Library (Main)
Celebrate Earth Day and the natural world around us here in Cambridge with an afternoon of discussion and exploration of our urban environment! Join the hosts of Cambridge Public Library's two climate-focused book groups for a brief guided conversation followed by an interactive scavenger hunt that will explore the areas around the library. You'll make connections with neighbors, learn more about our area's changing climate, and see the efforts and actions people in Cambridge are taking to protect the planet.
We will meet in the Rossi Room of the Main Library and then head outside to complete a scavenger hunt. Attendees are welcome to stay in Joan Lorentz Park or areas surrounding the library to complete the scavenger hunt or head to any other outdoor location!
Grand Junction Multi-use Path
Grand Junction Multi-use Path project is a rail with trail alongside or within the Grand Junction railroad right of way, which is now primarily owned by the state, without precluding future transit on the corridor. The first segment was constructed in 2016 as part of the Grand Junction Park. Since then, the City committed $10 million for the design and construction of the path north of Broadway, and MIT committed $8.5 million and right-of-way for the design and construction on MIT-owned portions between Main Street and Pacific Street. In 2019 the City began the design process for the multi-use path between the Charles River at the BU Bridge and the Cambridge Somerville city line.
158 Spring St and Ahern Field Improvements
The City of Cambridge is moving forward with targeted improvements to the 158 Spring Street building and Ahern Field to strengthen this important East Cambridge campus. The building project focuses on addressing aging infrastructure and improving safety, accessibility, and major systems such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and building envelope components. Limited classroom upgrades and common area improvements will help enhance the learning environment for students, staff, and visitors.
Planned upgrades to the playground and splashpad areas will improve accessibility, safety, and functionality. These multi-use spaces support both school and neighborhood use.
At Ahern Field, proposed improvements include a new synthetic turf field with lighting, renovated basketball and hockey/pickleball courts, better park entrances, new seating and gathering spaces, and enhanced landscaping to create a more welcoming and active space for people of all ages.
Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Group (Main)
This Month's Read: Luminous by Silvia Park
Reading Interests: The group concentrates on science fiction and fantasy. An advanced reading schedule is published each summer. Example selections include: Neuromancer by William Gibson and The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.
Requirements: A love of speculative fiction and a desire to talk about books. The group is friendly and informal.
How to get the print book: Copies of the print book are set aside at the Main Library Question and Answer desk on the ground floor. Visit the Main Library at 449 Broadway during service hours and a staff member can help you check out a copy.
E-books and digital audiobooks are available on Libby or Hoopla.
We'll meet in the Rossi Room on the ground floor of the Main Library.
For more information, contact Carrie at csauder@cambridgema.gov.
Wildlife on Wheels (Collins)
Celebrate Jasmine Warga's new book, The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan, about an unlikely friendship between a cheetah and a rescue dog who are paired as an animal ambassador team at a zoo — at this special event. Meet animals from The Zoo in Forest Park (Springfield, MA) and discover the amazing adaptations that help them survive in the wild. Ask questions and learn what you can do to protect wildlife. Recommended for children ages 6 and up.
This event is part of a special series promoting our 2026 Curious George Lecture with Jasmine Warga, award-winning author of A Rover's Story, Other Words for Home and many other popular children's books. Funding is generously provided by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation.
Save the Date: the Lecture will take place on Wednesday, April 15, 6 p.m. at the Main Library.
CPL Nature Club: Rethinking Urban Nature Workshop with Earthwise Aware (Main) (RESCHEDULED)
Join Earthwise Aware for a thought-provoking workshop examining how land use and climate change influence the design, function, and future of urban green spaces. Starting at the library’s front lawn, we will explore how conventional designs can undermine biodiversity and tree health. What makes a space truly nature-friendly? Can a lawn, sidewalk, or plaza be transformed into habitat?
We will compare low-functioning green spaces with examples of micro-forests, native plantings, and meadows. Along the way, we will observe seasonal changes in plants and wildlife through the lens of phenology, the study of nature’s calendar. We will also introduce simple participatory science tools that help monitor habitat quality, foster community engagement, and inform better decisions.
Even a modest native plant patch can be a pocket of resilience. Come learn how to spot, support, and reimagine urban nature that works with the ecosystem, not just mimics it.
The program will start with a workshop in the Rossi Room, then move outside to Joan Lorentz Park. Registration required.
CPL Nature Club: Rethinking Urban Green Spaces: Nature Walk with Earthwise Aware (Main)
Join Earthwise Aware (EwA) for an interactive walk to observe, document, and take part in shaping urban spaces that work with nature. Together, we will explore how design choices and climate pressures shape the ecological value of our everyday green spaces, and document habitat conditions using simple citizen science tools.
Starting at the library lawn, we will examine spaces that appear green but often function poorly. Manicured lawns and sparse tree plantings may look inviting, yet they frequently support little biodiversity and can limit soil health and resilience. What makes a space truly nature-friendly? We will record what is present, what is missing, and what that tells us about ecological function.
During the walk, we will:
Observe and document plant communities and habitat quality
Identify signs of low and high ecological function
Compare conventional landscapes with more resilient plantings such as native beds or meadow patches
Contribute real data that supports local ecological understanding and decision making
This is participatory science in practice. Your observations will feed into broader efforts to track urban biodiversity and inform better land use choices.
The program will meet outside the library in Joan Lorentz Park. Registration required.
Rain date: Wednesday May 6
Play in the Public Realm
A summary of the many ways that parks and open space can be activated through programming and design.