Harvard experienced a preview of summer last weekend when temperatures reached 80 degrees on Saturday, April 19. Synonymous with summer is Bare Hill Pond, and this season the hotspot has a new harbormaster.
Harbormaster Ben Baron. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Ben Baron officially took on the role in late 2024 after longtime Harvard resident and previous harbormaster Bob O’Shea fell ill. Baron had worked closely with O’Shea for years, assisting with dock maintenance, and said he was inspired by O’Shea’s passion and tireless effort to care for the town’s beloved summer swimming hole. “Bob wore more hats than anyone realized,” said Baron. “We’re asking for the community’s patience while we figure out everything he did.”
The pond officially opens over the Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26. Lifeguards will begin their duties June 17, or whenever the last day of school is for the district. Beginning April 23, residents will be able to register, via the town website, for parking stickers and for summer activities, including swimming and boating lessons, tennis camps, and the Summer Fun camps offered by the Park and Recreation Commission.
Water and boating safety
Baron has a few initiatives he is looking forward to this summer. First, he intends to educate boaters on the importance of using life jackets and will enforce the requirement to wear the lifesaving devices while boating for anyone under the age of 12. Plans to offer a community information session about pond safety are in development, according to Baron.
Additionally, general water and boating safety is of the utmost importance for Baron. He intends to ensure communication is thorough and widely available so that everyone understands proper navigation rules and respect for quiet hours. Handouts, postings on the town website, and hosting an awareness day with the Massachusetts Environmental Police are all on his agenda. “Anyone using a motorized boat will be required to have a state boating license next year,” said Baron. “We want people to be prepared and safe.”
Baron’s passion for the pond stems from his childhood, growing up on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. Raised in the town of Center Harbor, New Hampshire, Baron grew up swimming and boating on a body of water that could fit approximately 139 Bare Hill Ponds inside of it, based on comparative surface areas. “Bare Hill reminds me every day of how I grew up,” he said. “I want my kids, and everyone else’s, to have that same experience.”
Baron’s two children are students at Hildreth Elementary and the Bromfield School, grades 5 and 8. His connection to the pond is deeply personal. Growing up on the water shaped his love for outdoor recreation and community engagement. “My kids love the pond. Taking care of it is a way to give back.”
Giving back is no small task for the volunteer harbormaster. Baron is working to overcome some of the biggest challenges in his new position, which include administrative logistics and public education. He admitted that managing the boat lottery was difficult because of multiple factors, including 22 entries for 14 available dock slips and the limited capabilities of the software used to conduct the lottery.
Cleanup, a persistent challenge
Another difficulty Baron must overcome is general cleanup of the town beach and islands. Trash left behind by visitors on the beach, and litter from unauthorized parties held on Blueberry Island, creates a significant amount of work. And while it’s the task he is least looking forward to, Baron says he is hopeful more residents will step up to help. “It takes a village. When we ask for help, we really need it.”
One thing Baron is most looking forward to is infrastructure improvements. He is hoping to expand the docks to allow for more slip availability after seeing the need—a record 150 entries in this year’s lottery for slips, moors, and racks for motorized and nonmotorized watercraft. He is also partnering with the Harvard drone team in a cooperative initiative of the town police and fire departments to perform regular aerial surveys of the pond in order to monitor weed growth, dock shifts, and general pond safety.
Baron would also like to add events to the pond, such as a potential Labor Day boat parade and a winter polar plunge.
“I’m most looking forward to a quiet, safe summer on the water,” he said. In order to achieve his goals, he says residents can help in the following ways:
- Volunteer: Help with dock work or beach cleanup.
- Attend to safety: Wear life jackets, look for, read, and follow posted pond rules regarding water safety.
- Stay informed: Check the town website regularly for safety updates, water quality reports, and event information.
“I’m excited to support everyone who uses the pond and keep it a great place for the whole community,” said Baron.
Baron says the water level on the pond is several feet lower than normal, posing a hazard to boats. After the winter drawdown, the pond is refilling much more slowly than average, as are other ponds in the area according to the Massachusetts Department of the Environment.
