Organized and led by Shannon Walker
I am a Native Newporter who grew up with Easton's Pond as my front yard, and I consider myself a steward. I walk the Pond almost daily with my Aussie, Hanzo; am a realtor with Hogan Associates Christie's; am a long-time teacher and yoga practitioner; and am a recent appointee to Newport's 2037 Comprehensive Plan, with Easton's Pond as my proposed focus.
Easton's Pond: Preservation and Evolution
Saturday May 2, 6pm-7pm
Start and end at the Bridge at Braga Park - walk to the bridge at Old Beach and back
Set at sunset, when the light illuminates the Pond, we met at the bridge at Braga Park to share the roots of Easton's Pond, discuss the future of access and how climate change may shape that, and enjoy the present wildlife and beauty. This was a community walk with some open discussion and shared experiences of time spent and the history of the Pond. We met at the bridge, and walked to the next bridge and back while chatting with nature lovers and neighbors.
Walk Reflections
Shannon met the group of about 30 walkers on a cloudy, rainy Saturday evening at the Bridge at Braga Park, just on the edge of Easton’s Pond. She explained that she grew up on the Pond and still lives nearby. She described some of how the Pond was made and that because of sea level rise and changing infrastructure, there would be changes coming to the Pond that we could get involved in. She named that her current participation in Newport’s comprehensive plan was largely about how she advocates for the Pond and encouraged participants to get involved if they felt so moved.
As we walked Shannon encouraged small group conversation and would gather people together to notice various turtles, herons, and fish. We watched someone catch a bass and throw it back and traded stories about our time near water.
Back at the entrance, Shannon asked who had spotted the most turtles and her mom gave the lucky winner a jar of local honey. Just as we all got into our cars the skies opened up and the long-awaited storm arrived.
“Last weekend’s Jane’s Walk events were a relaxing and informative way to explore more of Newport’s past and present. The experience was a wonderful opportunity to slow down, notice details, and hear stories that connect our streets and neighborhoods to our collective history. It was especially nice to be among others who share a genuine curiosity and appreciation for learning about Newport and the layers that make it such a special place.”
— Walk Participant
— Walk Participant
“Nice, inclusive, and informative.”