March 2020 Neponset River Greenway News
Neponset
River Greenway Council 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. On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, we will
meet at 7:00 pm at the Boston Winery, 26 Ericsson Street in Port Norfolk in Dorchester.
Future Greenway Council Meetings
April 1, 2020 Foley Senior Residences, Mattapan
May 6,
2020
Milton Yacht Club, Milton
June 3, 2020
Hyde Park Police Station, Hyde Park
July 1, 2020 Boston Winery, Dorchester
Upcoming Events Along the Greenway:
On Monday, February 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Mildred Avenue Middle School Auditorium
5 Mildred Avenue in Mattapan, The public is encouraged to attend a public informational session about the Superfund status of the Lower Neponset River.
The Lower Neponset River site is currently identified by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the 3.7-mile stretch of the
Neponset River from the point where it merges with Mother Brook, a
branch of the Neponset River located upstream of Dana Avenue, Hyde Park,
Massachusetts (MA), extending downstream to the Walter Baker Dam
located upstream of Adams Street, Dorchester/Milton, MA. Based
on preliminary studies, this portion of the river contains sediment
contaminated with elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Read more at www.neponset.org/superfund .
The Superfund Program protects human health and the environment by
investigating and cleaning up often abandoned hazardous waste sites and
engaging communities throughout the process. Many of these sites are
complex and need long-term cleanup actions. Those responsible for
contamination are held liable for cleanup costs. EPA strives to return
previously contaminated land and groundwater to productive use.
February 29 Leap Day Walk starting at Paul's Bridge
Join the Neponset River Greenway Council at Paul's Bridge at 10:00 am on Saturday, February 29
for a winter walk along the river on Leap Day! The NRGC organizes and promotes events along the trail and
advocates for maintenance and expansion of the trail. We will explore
the southern end of the Neponset River Greenway trail and options for
future connections to the Blue Hills via the Burma Road trail in Fowl
Meadow and the future Blue Hill Avenue bikeway. Talking points along the
way will include a bit of history, nature and talk about upcoming
activities along the Greenway.
This walk is free and is open to the public.
Wear sturdy footwear and expect to hike some flat but possibly muddy trails.
The walk will be cancelled if there is heavy rain or snow deeper than three inches.
Here are some pictures from our last walk on this section of the Greenway on Groundhog's Day in 2014.
 
The Neponset River Greenway Council Plans for Its Future
We
will devote most of our March 4 meeting to discussing the future of the
Greenway Council as a non-profit corporation. The Neponset Trail is
moving from construction to maintenance, and the river along our
Greenway will be undergoing a cleanup over the next several years. What
can we do to improve the trail and its maintenance? What should we be
doing to make sure that the trail is completed? How can we best
represent the Greenway and support the neighborhoods along the Lower
Neponset to government agencies? And more...
The
Council would like your feedback about the organization. Please take
this short survey and share with your friends and neighbors. The survey
will be available through March 1st.
https://forms.gle/DM23N4gjJR1uiSRC7
March 21 First Weekend of Spring Neponset Trail Ride
Join us at Castle Island in South Boston at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 21 to celebrate the
first weekend of spring with a bike ride along Boston Harbor and
the Neponset River on existing and future portions of the Neponset Trail
from Castle Island to Paul's Bridge and back. We'll discuss the history
of the trail and enjoy its beautiful bridges as we bike on moderate
terrain with very little climbing for a distance of around 27 miles. A
helmet is required, and you should dress warmly. Snow or heavy rain will
postpone the ride for a week.
Here are photos from our 2018 ride, which was postponed twice due to snow and rain:
 
Other Upcoming Events
Tuesday, March 31, 9:45 am-1 pm: MA State House Room 428 State of Our Waters Legislative Breakfast
Saturday, April 18: Earth Week Family Bike Ride from Mattapan Square to Tenean Beach
Saturday, April 25, 9:00am - noon: Neponset River Cleanup sponsored by NepRWA
Saturday, June 20, 10am – 2pm: Neponset RiverFest at DCR Neponset Park in Dorchester.
-Jessica Mink, President, Neponset RIver Greenway Council, who took the photos, too
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