The Southwest Corridor Park

Edible landscaping .... Basil looks pretty in front of a brick background.

A September event in Dorchester at Nightingale Community Garden, of interest to gardeners!

Working in the new "alternative" garden in Jackson Square... while construction is going on along the park at Mildred C Hailey Apartments. With City Councilor Ben Weber and some neighbors. There are some herbs & flowers in the raised beds, and now adding some in the newly turned-over soil. (This garden will be shared by some neighbors and some group/teen gardeners.)

Last Monday, at National Night Out, BPD District E-13 presented the Crime Watch Group of the Year award to the Southwest Corridor Park Alliance. We were also highlighted at the City Council meeting on Wednesday with a citation for this award. Our monthly meetings include a public safety segment, with public safety officers from the three BPD districts, state police, and sometimes other agencies, who serve the park. (All park users are welcome to attend - check our website for details about our meetings and also see our "public safety" page.) Our network of volunteers also provide a natural presence in the park in all seasons, in all types of weather, with lots of positive partnerships!

About a pilot project in the Southwest Corridor Park by MassDOT -- speed signs and "no motor bike" stenciling.
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DCR, MassDOT Announce Pilot Program for New Safety
Measures on Path in Southwest Corridor Park
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BOSTON — The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) today announced the piloting of new safety measures on the Southwest Corridor Park (SWCP) shared-use path. The agencies are piloting the new measures, which include the installation of new speed feedback boards urging users to slow down, in response to feedback from users and stakeholders during the Southwest Corridor Action Plan public process. The collaboration aims to enhance the safety and usability of the Park’s shared-use path, integrating the expertise and resources of both agencies to create a more secure and enjoyable experience for all users.

“We are excited to pilot these new safety measures that will explore ways to keep the Southwest Corridor Park a safe and enjoyable space for all users,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo.
“By encouraging responsible path use and....

(see link to press release to continue)

southwestcorridorpark.org

Good news in Jackson Square -- a growing network of greenspace and greenway space.

Work on Jackson Square Greenway Begins - Jamaica Plain News Work recently began on a greenway in Jackson Square that connects Centre Street to Amory Avenue. The 681 foot long stretch will replace an industrial non-green way. In the worst case scenario, construction may last until June next year, said a Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation emplo...

One of the park stewardship gardens in the Southwest Corridor Park.

Add this to the list of wildlife visitors to the Southwest Corridor Park. :-)

Happy beginning of summer!

A notice from DCR about the fourth, and final, public meeting for the Action Plan:

DCR’s final virtual public meeting for the Southwest Corridor Park Action Plan will be on Tuesday evening, June 18th. We will present the updated Action Plan recommendations based on feedback from the last meeting and share early action projects.

Meeting Details: https://www.mass.gov/event/southwest-corridor-park-action-plan-public-meeting-4-6182024-2024-06-18t180000-0400-2024-06-18t193000-0400

Tomorrow mid-morning (Tues., June 11th), a few of us will be giving a tour of the Southwest Corridor Park with a visiting group from Denver. We need access for a large group, including wheelchair access, and so we'll use the bike path in some places. If you are biking by, give us a wave so we can let you through.
We are looking forward to sharing the park with this group, and hearing about their plans for a linear park as well.

Reminder -- Southwest Corridor Park Action Plan Public Meeting #3 with DCR tonight, May 21st.

Southwest Corridor Park Action Plan Public Meeting #3 5/21/2024 At this virtual public meeting the project team will present recommendations for the Southwest Corridor Park Action Plan. DCR will incorporate feedback from this meeting into a plan to be shared at a final public meeting in June.

At the Southwest Corridor Park Farm (adjacent to the Southwest Corridor Park)

Spring Tree Identification Walk Location: Southwest Corridor Community Farm, Jamaica Plain In the first weeks of spring, trees provide clues to their identification by way of their spring blooms, bark, and other characteristics. Alex Klein, local Arborist and Herbalist (alexkleinherbalist.com), will lead us through trees at the ga...

Spring morning; along the Southwest Corridor Park near English HS

Southwest Corridor Park Action Plan
Public Meeting #3
Tuesday May 21st, 2024 @ 6-8:00 pm

Register:

zoom.us

Survey - Jackson Sq./Lorber Family Playground (Orange Playground) in the Southwest Corridor Park
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Do you visit the orange playground in The Southwest Corridor Park in Jackson Square? (Or have you used this playground in the past,... or expect to again.... especially once the Bromley Heath Mildred C Hailey Apartments / Anna Mae Cole Community Center construction is done....?)
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If you live in Jackson Square and you or your family use the playgrounds, please complete this survey, part of the The Southwest Corridor Park Action Planning process.

Jackson Square Park We are wrapping up the design phase of the Southwest Corridor Action Plan. We seek your input in shaping the future of the Jackson Square Park.

Survey - Mission Deck in the Southwest Corridor Park.
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Do you use the basketball courts or other features in the Mission Deck section of the Southwest Corridor Park? (This is the space between Ruggles & Roxbury Crossing, near the BPD headquarters, and near Albert St. and Annunciation Road, with open space, playground, tennis and basketball courts.) If you use this space, please complete this survey, part of the SWCP Action Planning process.

Mission Hill Deck We are wrapping up the design phase of the Southwest Corridor Park Action Plan. We seek your input in shaping the future of the Mission Hill Deck area.

City Natives has a plant sale every spring. This is fun, and an affordable way to get plants for this year's garden! If you are interested, see the details and pre-order deadline below:

Friday is the final day to put in a pre-order for City Natives Nursery this spring. Click the link below to place your order or we'll see you at the end of May for in-person shopping.

Bit.ly/citynativesplantsale

Wake up the Earth Festival --

Posters are in!!

Spring day. (1.) Daffodils at Mission Deck; planted on fall volunteer days; (2.) Bike path with blossoming trees and shrubs, near Roxbury Crossing.

Public Comments and/or Survey: A reminder that public comments on the current draft of the Southwest Corridor Park Action Plan, or the current SURVEY, are due on Wed., March 20th. Here are three links --->
(1.) Please follow this link to access the recording, slide deck, and chat for this meeting: https://www.mass.gov/event/southwest-corridor-park-action-plan-public-meeting-2-2282024-2024-02-28t180000-0500-2024-02-28t193000-0500 .
(2.) Written feedback can be provided via DCR’s online portal: https://www.mass.gov/forms/dcr-public-comments
(3.) Find the survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRqPQivaq1Mj4JtsYtCdolOa3vTvD1t8oO-kFoWIK8b43Iug/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

DCR Public Comments Submit a comment to DCR on a proposed capital project, policy, or program.

All submissions due this Friday! Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA) NAACP Boston Branch Hakim Raquib Black Economic Council of Massachusetts Haley House Boston Grove Hall Branch of the Boston Public Library The Historic Moreland Street Neighborhood Association Boston While Black 🙂

Along the corridor (1.) magnolia tree budding; (2.) first bloom in the Butterfly meadow; (c.) at Mission Deck; bulbs planted last fall will blossom soon.

Wednesday, Feb. 28th, 6pm.
For friends & neighbors of the Southwest Corridor Park -- Here is the next step in DCR's Action Planning process. Thank you to everyone who is remaining engaged! As you see, this is a multi-step process, with Phase 1 to gather information and Phase 2 to propose action steps.

Southwest Corridor Park Action Plan

Public Meeting #2
Wednesday February 28th, 2024 @ 6pm – 7:30pm

Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIoceusqzIiGdB5hmCE7bUQiJZQgKPs-FY5

At this virtual public meeting the project team will present draft recommendations for the Southwest Corridor Park Action Plan. These recommendations are informed by findings from the existing conditions analysis and public engagement process that began with a listening session in summer 2023.

Reminder -- DCR is sponsoring open house events to invite conversation about the next phase of Action Planning for the The Southwest Corridor Park. We posted the flyers on the southwestcorridorpark.org home page, and on social media, and the information can also be found on the DCR website. You may also want to take time to look at the "story mapping" page - https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/459e284190864c85bbb8c2dc7b3bdd95 - that presents findings from Phase 1 about existing conditions in the park.

SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR PARK ACTION PLAN Creating a vision for the future of the SWCP

DCR open house events in Roxbury and JP this week! Thank you to everyone who attended the open house in the South End last week.

Let Your Voice Be Heard: Upcoming Southwest Corridor Action Plan Meeting at JP Library and Online The state would like the community's input on the Southwest Corridor Action Plan, and will host several neighborhood meetings this month. DCR says that the 4-mile corridor that spans Back […]

With gratitude: a tribute to Julia Martin, for decades of leadership for The Southwest Corridor Park and at Mildred C Hailey apartments.

Phase 2 of The Southwest Corridor Park Action Planning work is starting this winter. Please plan to attend one of the open house sessions to see ideas and talk about improvements to the park.

South End: Jan 10 // 3:00 -5:00 pm Connection Center at Union Church, 485 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118

Roxbury: Jan 16 // 5:30. - 7:30 pm Dillaway-Thomas House at Roxbury Heritage Park, 183 Roxbury Street, Boston 02119

Jamaica Plain: Jan 18 // 5:30 - 7:30 pm JP Boston Public Library 30 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Virtual: Jan. 23 // 7:30 – 8:30 via Zoom (register at: https://tinyurl.com/4n7dvrky)

Happy New Year! And some photos appreciating some of the wintertime garden accents in the Southwest Corridor.

Early winter in the The Southwest Corridor Park

Park neighbors and park users are always welcome to join us for the monthly Southwest Corridor Park Alliance meetings. Tonight (Tues., Dec. 5th) DCR will report out on the first phase of the Action Planning work, focusing on current conditions in the park. Find the zoom link on the website, linked below. We have public safety updates from 7-7:30, and general community meeting from 7:30 to 8:45. You can join at 7 or 7:30; either is fine.

Southwest Corridor Park Alliance The Southwest Corridor Park in Boston.