The Eighth Annual Neponset River Greenway Festival kicked off this weekend in Milton Village (across the river from Dorchester Lower Mills). Attendance was good, and there was a steady stream of cyclists, runners, and walkers on the not quite done Neponset Trail. Since the binder course was laid down last fall, details have slowly been filled in. The completion date was extended from June 30 to August 31 when railings specified by the MDC turned out to be hard to get because the company was busy with post 9/11 security structures, but they are supposed to arrive soon. Around the end of July, the Soil Stabilized Pavement should go down next to the salt marsh and the final coat of asphalt will follow over the rest of the trail. This spring, grass started growing along the trail and fences have gone up. There is now a permanent entrance to the path from the Adams St. MBTA station in Milton, and you can always get onto the path at the Port Norfolk end.

Discussion has resumed with Keyspan concerning the next phase of the Trail on the easement the MDC acquired between the gas tank and the SE Expressway near the Harbor. 9/11 security concerns had totally halted this part of the project, but it is hoped that security and the path can coexist, as this section is really necessary to get past a very dangerous expressway ramp onto Morrissey Boulevard.

As soon as the final surface is laid, it will be time to start planning the upstream portions of the Greenway, especially the section in Milton and Hyde Park from Mattapan to Paul's Bridge at the southern edge of the city.

-Doug Mink, dmink@massbike.org
Neponset River Greenway Council
MassBike/MetroBoston