June 2019 Neponset River Greenway News
We're
skipping our June meeting because the Neponset River Watershed
Association, with which we work closely, is holding its annual meeting
on the first Wednesday of June, and many of the Council members are
attending it.
it's on Squantum Point in Quincy, on the other bank of the Neponset
EstuaryOur meetings are usually held on the first Wednesday of the
month at rotating locations in the communities of
the Lower Neponset River: Hyde Park, Milton, Mattapan,
and Dorchester.
Follow us on Facebook to keep up between meetings.
Future Greenway Council Meetings
July 10, 2019 Port Norfolk Yacht Club
August 7, 2019 Foley Senior Residences, Mattapan
September 4, 2019 Milton Yacht Club, Milton
October 2, 2019 Hyde Park Police Station, Hyde Park
Notes from our February through May meetings:
- Neighbors
of Camp Meigs in Readville are taking turns emptying a barrel for park
trash. Could we apply that sort of volunteerism elsewhere along the
Greenway?
- There
is discussion of a walking path between the river and the wall along
Edgewater Drive in Mattapan upstream from Mattapan Square.
- A group in Mattapan is looking at uses for the DCR's building next to the trail in Mattapan Square.
- An improved Blue Hill Ave. crossing along River St. on the Boston side is in Boston's budget
- Stop signs are needed on Central Ave. at the trail and trolley crossing, and on the trail , too.
- The
design of the next piece of the Neponset Trail from Tenean Beach to
Victory Road is underway. There will be a 75% design meeting on this and
the already-designed stretch from Victory Road to Morrissey Blvd.
before late summer. MassDOT is looking for funding.
- Sustainability
money in the next bond bill could be used to rebuild Morrissey Blvd.
with the last northern section of our trail along with it. Planning is
ongoing.
- The Tenean Beach Playground will be rebuilt. Bids were opened in May.
- In Quincy, Commander Shea Blvd. has been extended to Squantum Point Park. There are 10-foot sidewalks, but no bike lane
Upcoming Events Along the Greenway:
Mattapan on Wheels, Walker Playground in Mattapan on Saturday, July 20
The
Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition Vigorous Youth is sponsoring their
9th Mattapan on Wheels (MoW) Bike-a-thon: Encore! We got a lot of
postive feedback during our 7th annual ride that we decided to take on
the Nesponset River Greenway Trail again! During MoW, riders of all ages
and skill levels come together, get physically active and pedal to make
Mattapan a more bike-friendly neighborhood. After the ride, grab some
food and visit the 14th Annual Hoops and Scoops event! The Governor came last year--he stopped by MoW on his way to the basketball event.
Rain Date: Saturday, July 27, 2019 Cost: FREE! Age: 8+ (12 and under w/adult) Register here!
 
Ayanna Pressley sent us off last year The intermediate ride was ready to roll
Neponset RiverFest, Neponset Park in Dorchester on Saturday, July 20
Join
NepRWA in celebration of the Neponset River and the beautiful parks and
pedestrian paths along the shore, along with the natural salt marshes
and wetlands that support more than 200 species of birds, fish and other
wildlife.This is a family-friendly, public event. Bring a blanket and a picnic, and spend the day!
 
NepRWA's event team Ellie, Maria, and Lee at the Greenway Council's table
Tenean Beach Day, Saturday, August 3
Free food and art on the beach from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Events this Spring:
Hyde Park Flower Garden dedicated to Barbara Baxter on Saturday, May 4
A
flower garden and stone in memory of Hyde Park activist and Greenway
Council member Barbara Baxter were dedicated near Martini Shell in a
ceremony run by State Representative Angelo Scaccia, with words from
former BNAN President Valerie Burns and members of Barbara's family and
her Hyde Park community.
 
Barbara's memorial stone
The flower garden and the crowd
Saturday, April 27 NepRwa Neponset River Cleanup
Ian Cooke reports: The rain held off,
we had a record number of volunteers-- more than 220--and numerous sites
including Tenean, Edgewater, Lower Mills, Quincy along the riverwalk,
Hyde Park along Truman, and Milton opposite PJP. was at Milton opposite
PJP, an area where the river turns and a huge amount of marine debris
accumulates. Other than trouble spots like this--where we are making
progress on a 50 year accumulation of junk--it's getting harder and
harder to find junk along the Neponset, which is great.
Saturday, March 23 Bike Tour of the Neponset River Greenway
We
biked the entire Neponset Trail from Paul's Bridge in Milton to Castle
Island in South Boston and back, checking out a few future parts of the
trail. It's fairly flat, but almost 27 miles long. Here are a
couple of photos from last year.
 
Stopped on the Estuary The next Neponset Trail segment along the SE Expressway
-Jessica Mink
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