Project Kicks Off Fourth Annual Boston Shines Weekend
April 27, 2006
Mayor Thomas
M. Menino and NSTAR Chairman, President and CEO Thomas
May kicked off the annual Boston Shines weekend today by
announcing a former substation site will be turned into
usable open space for the Dorchester neighborhood.
The annual citywide clean-up will take place on Friday, April 28th and Saturday, April 29th in neighborhoods all over the city. NSTAR got a jump-start on the event earlier this week when employees began tidying up the land at the intersection of Bowdoin Street and Geneva Avenue in Dorchester.
“Boston Shines a great example of a public/private partnership that helps to make the city look its best. Now in its fourth year, this event has become an annual tradition that keeps getting bigger and better every year,” Mayor Menino said. “The more involvement we have from the business community and our public sector partners, the more we can really make Boston shine!”
“NSTAR has a long history of community service,” May said. “Every year, our employees volunteer their time to help make Boston Shine, but this year we wanted to do more. By cleaning up this site for public use, we’re helping to ensure neighbors here in Dorchester have a place to find refuge from the hectic city streets.”
Area residents in the Bowdoin/Geneva section of Dorchester worked with the Mayor’s Office and NSTAR to enhance access and organize a major cleanup of the NSTAR site and the adjacent Urban Wild. While the NSTAR parcel is being landbanked for potential future use to enhance the region’s electric system, the fences are being taken down to open the property up for public use and enjoyment.
The land is adjacent to the Geneva Cliffs Urban Wild, a 1.8 acre plot which is owned by the city’s Conservation Commission. It is one of the largest natural areas in northern Dorchester. Mayor Menino today presented the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corp. with a $25,000 grant to fund the community planning process for the future care and use of the combined sites.
There are also plans for the Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School and people from the neighborhood to clean up the site and return it to an urban wild for community use.
“I’m pleased to be able to give this money to the community so they can decide for themselves how best to use this site,” said Mayor Menino. “This is a perfect example of how businesses and community groups can work cooperatively to better the condition of our neighborhoods.”
Mayor Menino is inviting individuals, businesses, and institutions to partner with the city by volunteering their time and resources to help support Boston Shines. Residents can help by recruiting and leading a team of neighbors or co-workers, or making an in-kind or cash donation. To learn how you can become one of the thousands of volunteers, call the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services at 617-635-3485.
NSTAR Electric and Gas transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to 1.4 million customers in Eastern and Central Massachusetts, including over one million electric customers in 81 communities and nearly 300,000 gas customers in 51 communities.
