Newton Lake Reopens After Temporary Closure

NEWTON, MA — Crystal Lake will reopen Thursday morning after a second round of water quality testing confirmed the lake is safe for swimming, Mayor Marc Laredo announced.

The beach has resumed its regular weekday hours of 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. after follow-up testing found bacteria levels were within safe limits. According to the city, the second test was required before the public health advisory could be lifted.

Crystal Lake has been closed since Monday, June 22, when elevated levels of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, were detected in the water. City officials warned residents to avoid swimming, boating, wading, fishing, or allowing pets into the lake because cyanobacteria can produce toxins that are harmful to both people and animals.

Under Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidance, Crystal Lake could only reopen after two consecutive water samples taken one week apart met state safety guidelines. The city's first follow-up sample, collected June 24, returned to normal levels, with the second sample collected Wednesday also meeting the required standards.

"A huge thank you to Parks & Recreation Deputy Commissioner Mark Kelly who yesterday drove to the testing lab in Connecticut to pick up testing materials, and to Commissioner Marc Welch who delivered the samples to the lab today to expedite this process," Laredo said in a statement.

The reopening comes one day after Gath Memorial Pool resumed operations following a temporary closure caused by vandalism. The pool had been forced to close after someone shattered glass on the pool deck, requiring cleanup and safety inspections before it could reopen.

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