August 2, 2023
Mason Johnson Brito and Carlos Henrique prepare to launch from the dock at Pope John Paul II in a kayak provided by Paddle Boston. Photos by Seth Daniel.
The annual Neponset Day festival went off without a hitch on a crisp, blue-sky morning and afternoon at Pope John Paul II Park last Sunday.
Hundreds of friends, families, neighbors, and Neponset River advocates flooded the park with positivity, eating lunch from the food trucks and ice cream vendors, then taking a paddle along the rolling river. The park has a dock and canoe launch available to the public, which was promoted by the Neponset River Greenway Council via canoes and kayaks from Boston Paddle. Additionally, there was a Boston Fire truck from Engine 20 on site for children to explore with real firefighters.
The event had originally been planned for early June but was re-scheduled due to extensive rain and cold at that time.
Tina Wei with Iven Chen and Kevin Chen after exploring the Boston Fire truck.
District 3 Council candidate John FitzGerald enjoyed ice cream with his children during Neponset Day, including Callan, Mac, and Reese.
Hilltop Street native Jack White practices fly fishing technique with Mike Yeomans of the Greater Boston Chapter of Trout Unlimited. White said he remembered hopping freight trains and building forts on the junkyard – uses that in his childhood dominated Pope John Paul II Park.
Dorchester’s Maria Lyons, of the Neponset Greenway Council, with her former students from Mt. Alvernia Academy, Rory, Kiernan, Alannah, and Liam Kelly. Lyons retired this past spring after many years teaching at Mt. Alvernia Academy.
The St. Andre family prepared to canoe the Neponset River, including Chris, Carrie, Caleigh, and Colin.
Emma Daniels shows off the Monarch butterfly she colored at the craft booth run by Dorchester’s Maria Lyons.
KJ Driggs was all smiles after getting a dragon painted at the face painting booth and then hitting the lawn games.
Wendy Tram enjoyed paddling along the edge of the Neponset River on Sunday. She said she used to work alongside the Neponset River and really enjoys being around it.
Tom Palmer, a volunteer at the Greenway Council, and Jessica Mink, president of the Neponset River Greenway Council.
