This is good news. Certain stretches of the Blackstone Boulevard walking path are getting very uneven. Gullies, roots, and rocks, have made the footing a bit dicey. From the Blackstone Parks Conservancy:
Beginning this week, the Blackstone Blvd path between Rochambeau and Mount Avenues will be getting a makeover. Over the winter tree crews started by pruning large branches. A contractor is protecting the trees now, then will remove the old path material, grade for drainage and safety, then add a stable, porous material that will be gentle underfoot and absorb rainwater.
This should be a long-lasting improvement to a section of path that has degraded over the years – you may have noticed the intermittent ankle-deep mud there. For several years the Conservancy and the Parks Department have been working to find long-term solutions for the path. We are thrilled and very grateful that the City has made it possible to improve this unique urban trail, which is treasured by people from throughout Providence and beyond.
The section at the north end that was rehabbed . . . last year? 2019? I can’t remember . . . has really held up. The conduit created to break up and disperse rain runoff is wonderfully simple and blends in naturally.
Have some free time this Saturday morning? Join the BPC Park-Keeping brigade between 10:30am and noon at the York Pond meadow on River Road. This event is open to the public and the BPC welcomes first-timers.
This is a relatively light workout, as the plants are small and the soil is moist. Bring gloves, water bottle, small weeding tools (trowel, forked weeder) if you have them. We do have tools and gloves available as well.
And big thanks to the volunteers who planted those new sweeps of daffodils!