Why not unearth the river as originally planned?
We would love to unearth it (“it” is technically the Mill Brook). Unfortunately, the Mill Brook Conduit is an integral part of the city’s sewer system. It carries diluted sewage under storm conditions. As far as the issue of authenticity is concerned, we make an analogy with the towers of Union Station, which are also replicas – and universally considered to be wonderful. What is the source of water for this man-made lagoon? Will the water be stagnant or free- flowing? Who will maintain it and keep it clean? The source will be water flowing from Indian Lake. It would be free-flowing but largely recirculated. There will certainly be operational and maintenance costs, which would likely be funded through a semi-independent authority, a local business association or a self-taxing business improvement district. What happens in the winter months? In the winter months it would be less hospitable, just like New England itself and just like Worcester Common itself. Certainly we could have skat
