Stony Brook Playground & Spray Deck Closed Into Summer for Renovations

The Stony Brook Playground and Spray Deck is closed into this summer as the Department of Conservation and Recreation renovates the spot on Lamartine Street. The renovations are being made to address the playground's surfaces and create a more inclusive play area. The project includes:

Installing new soft safety surfacing using poured in place (PIP) rubber within the playground and spray deck

Smoothing and resurfacing the asphalt surfaces around the spray deck and the walkway between the playgrounds

Constructing an ADA compliant walkway

Replacing park benches for better seating

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Jamaica Plain Historical Society Neighborhood Walking Tours Begin May 14

Ever wonder about the history of Hyde Square, Green Street, or Stony Brook? Learn about those neighborhoods and other JP areas through the Jamaica Plain Historical Society's history walking tours series. This is 27th season of JPHS' historic walking tours. All tours are free to the public, and the series kicks of May 14 with a tour Monument Square. The tours are mostly on Saturdays at 11 am, although there are a few Sunday tours this summer.

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A scene from the South Street Parade at Wake Up The Earth 2015

Wake Up The Earth Festival & Parades on May 7

The beloved Wake Up The Earth Festival & Parade will be on May 7, and you'll have three places to join a parade, as they come together at Stony Brook. Parades will gather at 10:30 am. If you're interested in joining the parade, and everyone is welcome, please email Zafiro at wute22parade@gmail.com.  The trio of parades will start at Curtis Hall, the Curley K-8 School, and the Egleston Square YMCA. Parades will meet at Jackson Square and then continue together down Lamartine Street to begin the festival at Stony Brook, which starts officially at noon, and goes to 6 pm. The festival includes musical performances, food vendors, a local farm selling seedlings, lots of local organizations with information tables, a kids musical play area, and more.

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Jamaica Plain Historical Society Historic Walking Tours Start May 22

The 26th season of the free Jamaica Plain Historical Society neighborhood tours are kicking off May 22. The tours are a great way to learn more about Monument Square, the Woodbourne neighborhood, Jamaica Pond, and more. "I like helping people discover more about the history of the places they visit each day. People pass by the colonial milestones in JP zillions of times without knowing they are there and what they are," said JPHS President Gretchen Grozier. "But once someone takes a tour they learn more, and hopefully, are curious to continue learning more about the rich and wonderful history of Jamaica Plain."

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My Ten Favorite Streets to Walk in Jamaica Plain

Alex Cox recently accomplished an amazing feat -- he walked every single street in Boston.  

Cox is currently a Master in Urban Planning candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He recently achieved his long-term goal to visit every street in Boston by foot or by bike, and holds the Guinness World Record for fastest time to travel to every MBTA station. A long-time resident of the Fenway-Kenmore area, he now lives in Somerville. Here are his 10 favorite streets to walk in Jamaica Plain:

Jamaica Plain has always held a special place in my heart, because it was the first neighborhood of Boston that I ever lived in.

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Developer Wants to Demolish Historical Williams Street Dye House

Currently, the dye house at 69 Williams Street and the landmark Doyle’s Café property next door are facing a proposed redevelopment into condos and a new restaurant building.  

April 26 is the last day to provide input to the Boston Landmarks Commission about this significant property. The commission could decide to delay the demolition of the property. Comments can be submitted by 5 pm by emailing blc@boston.gov.

Let's discuss the history of Isaac Cary’s historic property. Jamaica Plain's 69 Williams Street is a silk dye house that was built in 1880 by Isaac Harris Cary, a prominent merchant and real estate developer from JP.

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Historical Society Leading (Real Life) Walking Tours of Stony Brook, Hyde Square, Jamaica Pond and More

The Jamaica Plain Historical Society is leading four real life walking tours during the next four weekends. The hourlong tours are on Saturdays . The tour schedule is as follows: Stony Brook; Hyde Square; Green Street; and Jamaica Pond. JPHS has had to adapt their tours to modern pandemic times. "Luckily, the tours are all outside and that also makes things safer.

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DCR Playgrounds, Spray Decks and Fitness Areas Now Open to Public

Summer weather is here and now we can all go to Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) spray decks, playgrounds, and fitness areas, after the agency announced they're all open for public use. The reopening is part of Phase II of the state's reopening plan. According to a press release, DCR will conduct "periodic cleanings of spray decks, playgrounds and fitness areas." Signage has also been posted to provide guidance to visitors on proper use. There are nine DCR-run playgrounds/spray decks/fitness areas in Jamaica Plain:

Amory Playground (Amory Street)
Anson Spalding Street Playground (Spalding Street)
Boynton Hall Street Playground (Hall Street)
Corporal Joseph E. Johnson Playground and Spray Deck (Green Street)
Everett Street Playground (Everett Street)
Lorber Family Playground (Jackson Square)
Mission Hill Deck Playground (Tremont Street)
New Minton Street Playground (New Minton Street)
Stony Brook Playground and Spray Deck (Lamartine Street)

The Johnson Spray Deck also recently got a facelift with picnic benches and soft padding replaced the hard concrete by the spray fountains.

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JP Historical Society Launches Walking Neighborhood Tour Series

Twenty-three years ago the then president of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society, Rhea Becker, had an idea. Why not conduct a series of walking tours during the summer months as a way to highlight the rich history of JP for people? The JPHS has been conducting historic walking tours of Jamaica Plain tours ever since. From the four tours that debuted on the schedule in 1995, the offerings have now expanded to include seven different tours. Each tour lasts between 60 and 90 minutes.

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Snow Melter Toils Away at Arborway Yard

Barletta Heavy Construction used a Canadian made snow melter to evaporate tons of snow removed from tracks by the MBTA. The melted snow is pumped into  Stony Brook  which flows northeasterly in a 7 foot brick culvert under the busyard. Credit: Richard Heath

For snow-weary residents, it can be a beautiful sight: Piles and piles of the stuff being melted away. That's what's happening right in Forest Hills as crews work the snow melter at the Arborway Yard. Here are a few photos.

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