Egleston Square Shines Even During the Rain Thanks to Volunteers and Residents

Over a dozen tried and true community volunteers came out in the damp to plant flower beds, dig holes for shrubs at the "Stonehenge" sitting park at Washington and Atherton streets, and to clean up the Peace Park at School and Washington streets on Saturday during the annual Boston Shines in Egleston Square.

Organized by Egleston Square Main Streets (ESMS) led by Luis Cotto, the planting at "Stonehenge" was funded by a $2,500 Love Your Block grant awarded to ESMS in January.

Around 80 plants and shrubs were delivered by ESMS volunteers in the morning during spotty drizzling rain. Earlier City Soil had dropped off a truck load of top soil for the volunteers. For the next three hours volunteers got their hands (and clothes) dirty as they dug, planted and worked the soil. And nobody left early.

This was Phase One to plant around the Egleston Square sign facing Washington Street and Columbus Avenue. Phase Two will be done by May 21 with a second planting bed in back and a lending library. The half moon granite blocks will be painted by local artists who will paint the library stand.

At the Peace Park volunteers from the Iglesia Reformda Emanuel Church, which faces the park at 3140 Washington St., raked up leaves under the shrub beds beneath the murals and swept the pavement areas.