Seamus and friend along the banks of the Neponset River, Dorchester

Last week, my faithful companion (Seamus the dog), his beautiful Berner companion Poppy (named after Boston’s own Big Papi), and I walked the section of Boston’s HarborWalk that comprises Dorchester’s Pope John Paul Pius II Park.  The 65-acre park is on the banks of the Neponset River.

Pope John Paul Pius II Park in Dorchester

The park has been reclaimed from its prior use as a landfill and now has over a mile of paved trails (wheelchairs work well here), a playground, parking lot complete with ADA spaces and a couple of port-a-potties (including a wheelchair-accessible one).

Neponset River Trail

In either direction, the Neponset River Trail extends (for a total of 2.5 miles) along the Neponset River, its salt marshes, and the Boston Harbor.  The trail consists of both gravel and paved trails, and although I didn’t explore the entire trail, according the the website, it’s “consistently flat.”  Also known as the Neponset River Greenway, the trail will be 10 miles long upon completion.  It will eventually connect the Blue Hills Reservation with Boston Harbor;  see The Boston Globe‘s June article on the state’s commitment of capital funding to finish the project.

Since you’ll be in the area, don’t miss a chance to stock up on delicious meats, a traditional Irish breakfast, or Barry’s tea at the Butcher Shop Market on Adams Street in Dorchester.  The shop is wheelchair-accessible, although the doors are not electric.  Important note:  there is a big parking lot behind the store but it has been undergoing renovation for a while now.  If you need to park in ADA spaces, you might want to call the market to find out the status on the parking lot.

And Ginger Betty’s Bakery in Quincy is close enough for a detour!

Gingerbread work of art featuring Boston