To the Editor,

Cold Spring Park is my favorite place to go birdwatching in Newton, and I visit often. In the heart of our community, it’s a place for kids’ soccer practices, tennis games, cross-country meets and trips to the dog park. It’s also a place where birdwatchers have reported 27 species of warblers so far in 2026. That combination is worth protecting.

For me, the park is a reminder that we don’t have to travel far to find nature—and that outdoor spaces can serve both people and wildlife.

That’s why I support Question 6. It would dedicate existing sales tax revenue from sporting goods to protecting water and nature. It does not raise taxes. It puts revenue we already collect toward protecting clean drinking water, conserving forests, farms and wildlife habitat, and improving parks, trails and greenspaces.

You don’t need binoculars to benefit from those investments. Whether you’re walking a dog, cheering from the sidelines, or listening for birds along a trail, places like Cold Spring Park enrich our daily lives.

I’m voting Yes on Question 6, and I hope my neighbors will join me. I want future generations to enjoy the same opportunities we have: a place to play, spend time together and discover the wildlife around us.

Jacob Hesterman
Newton Corner