Gala raises funds and celebrates Waltham’s green spaces

An animated crowd enjoyed wine and the twilight view from the terrace of Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Paine Estate, for the Waltham Land Trust’s 21st Annual Green Space Blues Jam gala on Friday night. Noted blues artists Paul Rishell and Annie Raines serenaded the attendees through the evening.

One of the crown jewels of the city’s green spaces, the 19th-century mansion is surrounded by grounds designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. It was an apt setting for the nonprofit, whose mission is “to create a legacy of land conservation in Waltham by promoting, protecting, restoring and acquiring open space.”

Marc Rudnick, WLT board treasurer, reminisced about teaming up with Waltham residents and former city officials George Darcy and the late Gloria Champion to start the organization in 1999. The trust advocated for the city to preserve its natural habitats. 

Rudnick said there has been a major change of mindset since those early days. Over the years, the city has purchased green spaces rather than let private developers build housing on them. Today, the WLT “serves as a place for people to come to volunteer to maintain our open space. We have a huge group of stewards. I think that’s a big way that people get to participate,” he said.

“The environment is really critical,” said Claudia Clark, an attendee. “It’s important to take care of it. It’s important for people’s mental health.” 

She said the organization has enhanced her life as a Waltham resident. “The land trust has made me much more aware of the green space around the area. You get together with like-minded people and you explore the different green space. It’s fun.”