Mattapan Square trail house expected to be completed by spring

 by Patrick Rosso, Boston.com Staff . Originally posted at Boston.com on January 9, 2014 

The conversion of a former mattress store in Mattapan Square into a Department of Conservation and Recreation trail house is progressing and should be completed by the spring.

The property, adjacent to the Mattapan Square MBTA station on the Mattapan/Milton line of RT. 28, will be the neighborhood’s gateway to the planned and partially completed Neponset River Greenway, which stretches along the Neponset River from Dorchester to Hyde Park.

The project will create an “interim plaza” at the site, which will eventually be converted into a space that could potentially house an information kiosk, public meeting space, or commercial element.

On Wednesday, Cathy Garnett, a project manager for DCR, explained to the Neponset River Greenway Council that the project is moving forward, but still needs some finishing touches.

The mural that will wrap around the building still needs to be installed, along with a cap for the building’s chimney, new benches, and new trees.

“Right now the exterior of the building is stabilized and the plaza is done,” said Garnett. “The next step will be to have those conversations about what it can be used for.”

Although the project will revamp the building’s exterior, little has been done to the interior of the building.

“The interior has the potential to be used for anything, but it’s gutted right now,” added Garnett.

Garnett said she expects a public meeting will be held sometime after the project has been completed to gather input from residents about what they would like to see at the space.

DCR bought the property for an estimated $400,000 in November of 2010.

(Image courtesy DCR)

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Email Patrick D. Rosso, patrick.d.rosso@gmail.com. Follow him @PDRosso, or friend him on Facebook.

Thank you to the Neponset River Watershed Association for sharing it on their NepRWA blog.

You can find the original post here.