Above: DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle cuts the ceremonial ribbon on Wednesday morning along with state and city officials near the new boardwalk adjacent to Morrissey Boulevard. Seth Daniel photo
In the shadow of the National Grid rainbow tank, state and city officials gathered Wednesday morning to cut a ceremonial ribbon at the most recent section of the Neponset Greenway trail to open.
The $10.3 million extension runs from Port Norfolk to Morrissey Boulevard and provides a missing link that offers a safer way to traverse the I-93 highway and Morrissey Boulevard, while providing a picturesque new boardwalk with sweeping views of Dorchester Bay.
DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle led the event and noted that while the extension had a soft opening to the public last July, all of the finishing touches were now in place to make it a complete project.
Interim Mass Department of Transportation Director Philip Eng shouted out the new boardwalk running from the gas tank to Morrissey Boulevard and proclaimed it “a fan favorite.”
WATCH: A first ride along the new section in July 2025.
State Rep. Dan Hunt, a key proponent of this section of the trail in his 13th Suffolk House district, credited the community and elected officials’ support for the project over 17 years. Hunt credited former state Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry — now the Reporter co-publisher— and former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh for their efforts to lobby colleagues and Gov. Deval Patrick to get the project into the DCR pipeline a decade ago.
Former state Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry, current Reporter co-publisher, chats with State Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper about her years of advocacy for the Greenway Extension. Seth Daniel photo
State Rep. Dan Hunt. Seth Daniel photo
A plethora of city and state officials join community advocates and two bicyclists along the new boardwalk. Seth Daniel photo
Emmanuel Salako, Daniel Deng, and Anish Kayiparambil, of Lin Associates consulting engineers on the boardwalk, join Stella Lensing (second from right) of the DCR. Seth Daniel photo
DCR’s Stella Lensing talks with state officials about the design of the rest stop along the boardwalk – in the shadow of the National Grid tank. Seth Daniel photo
