By Damola Curtis
Special to the Reporter

After much hesitation in the clouds, the sun beamed down upon the Neponset River Saturday afternoon, causing it to sparkle like the diamond in the rough that it is.

The Boston Natural Areas Network and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (formerly the MDC) kicked off a summer-long festival at Pope John Paul II Park with Art and Nature on the River. This 10th annual event was an experience of arts and crafts for kids (big and small), canoe trips, rock climbing, pony rides, a folk music concert, wrapped up by a parade of sails.

"The festival is part of a larger effort to build awareness about the Neponset and bring new resources to the Neponset. It's a tool to bring people that might not otherwise come - we use concerts, the outdoor movies, canoe trips, dog sledding in the winter, a whole variety to attract as many people as possible, not only here, but all the way up the river," said Valerie Burns, president of BNAN.

The Neponset River runs from Boston into Foxboro, by Gillette Stadium. It is populated by more than 200 species of birds, along with fishermen, canoers, and, thanks to the recently built park, a number of walkers and joggers.

The river has come a long way.

"This river was a hidden river, it was fenced in the 1950s," said Ellie Spring, a member of the Cedar Grove Civic Association. "There were some drownings and bad hurricanes and you couldn't get to the river. The expressway came through here, and you had the big expanse of the drive-in and the trash heap. The land was acquired, and there have been several plans for the use of this land. Through a lot of perseverance, the BNAN and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, we put together the greenway council from civic associations who were interested in the environment and opening up the river, getting this park off the ground."

Getting the park off the ground has not been easy. But with the support of the community, local and national funders, local elected officials and various associations, the revitalization of the Neponset River began.

"Since the park has come here, it's been one of the best assets we have. I kept thinking, 'We're eventually going to have to move,' but now that the park is here, it's wonderful," said Freda Manning, a Dorchester resident since she was in second grade.

"The reason why I came here was because I was going to the mall and I saw it off the highway. We come around here to walk. It's really relaxing. It's a really nice park," said Janelle Clervil, of Dorchester.

"We love to come here. We walk around the park. We come here all the time," said Marcellus Sequeira, of Dorchester.

"We try to get people out in the community to realize that the river is here and that it's an asset to the community," said Beth Phelps, BNAN program manager.

"Every year, the festival has grown - while the park was being built we couldn't have it here, so this is actually the second year we've had it at John Paul Park," said Spring. "We used to have the festival up at Milton Landing."

The festival kick-off ended on a high note - a boat parade, with yachts from the local yacht clubs along the river.

"It's not quite the tall ships, but it's the Neponset version," said Burns.

This year, the Festival will include: a Neponset Family Fun Day and River Run, Kites before the Movie, a Family Movie Series, Especially for Children, Canoe Trips, Nature Walks, all culminating in the Sounds of the Neponset, a 10th Anniversary Concert at Pope John Paul II Park, where folk musician Cheryl Wheeler will perform, along with other folk musicians. For more information, contact BNAN at 617-542-7696 or e-mail info@bostonnatural.org.