Greenway Community Representative Presents Update to NEWRA

North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association’s Community Representative on the Greenway Conservancy, Robyn Reed, presented a report relating to the Greenway at the last NEWRA monthly meeting.

Robyn’s update was as follows.  “I responded to Dave Kubiak’s question from the March meeting regarding the lease extension that the Greenway has with the DOT. Our current lease extension runs to the end of April 2014, but it is expected that there will be another extension.

“The $25,000 grant for the horticulture improvements to the pergola bed in the North End parks is the biggest horticulture project this spring. The Greenway spends more money on a per-square-foot basis on the North End parks than the rest of the park primarily because of the fountains and the hardscaping and infrastructure of our parks.

“The Carousel opened on April 11, with special hours for Good Friday and Patriot’s Day. The Carousel will be open Fridays and Saturdays until Memorial Day Weekend from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Rides are $3 each and a book of 10 tickets is $25.   ”The Greenway Gala is Tues., May 13 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available on the website rosekennedygreenway.org/events.

“I invited everyone to attend the Greenway board meetings, which are open to the public. The often meet at the Kneeland Street building of the DOT but people should check the website for the location.

“It was the costliest winter so far for the Greenway, primarily due to snow removal.

“Four large valves are being replaced in the North End park fountains in the next few weeks, and the new plantings for the pergola beds will be starting. The bulbs planted by FOTNEP will remain. Trees that are next to the street that were damaged over the winter will be replaced.

“Park Rangers are being hired by the Greenway for safety and security reasons.

“A new volunteer coordinator position for the Greenway has been hired. There were over 800 volunteers and over 3,000 hours of time volunteered last year, and a permanent position was created to manage the process and oversight of the volunteers.” .