2026 is shaping up to be a big year for the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway. A City of Boston Parks and Recreation project with a $3.6 million construction budget will bring major changes to the 3.3-mile community path this year. The goal of these changes? To support coastal resilience and enhance the green space’s overall conditions.

Coastal Resilience Efforts

As a waterfront area, East Boston is particularly vulnerable to flooding amid rising sea levels. Because of its low elevation, the Greenway — which connects Jeffries Point to Constitution Beach — has experienced chronic flooding for years. (If you’ve ever visited the path after a big storm, you’ve likely experienced this issue.) According to the project’s 2022 online survey, reducing the impacts of flooding was the number one priority for respondents.

To help address this issue, the project team plans to elevate sections of the pathway and incorporate rain gardens, bioswales, and stone drainage trenches to better manage stormwater. In addition to these green infrastructure approaches, the Greenway will continue to use a temporary, deployable flood barrier during storms (which will be stored in a container along the path).

Overall Greenway Enhancements

Beyond flood mitigation, more general improvements are also slated for the multi-use pathway — all designed to enhance the Greenway’s role as a community space for Eastie residents and visitors. New plaza areas, cafe tables and chairs, bike racks, additional benches, and other amenities are in the works to encourage leisure and gathering.

Other updates include removing dead trees from the path and planting several new trees in their place, converting all light fixtures to LED, and adding more pavement markings to better distinguish areas for cyclists and pedestrians.

Construction Timeline and Detour Route

While all these changes are being made, the Greenway will close between Marginal Street and Porter Street, including the crossing at Gove Street. The Massport sections of the Greenway and the East Boston Memorial Park will be open during construction, as they aren’t owned by the City of Boston. The City’s proposed construction detour route runs along Orleans Street, from Marginal Road to Porter Street.

The project schedule has shifted a few times. As of the latest update, the park is expected to be under construction from early March 2026 until the end of the year. (That’s right: The Greenway is scheduled to close for nearly a full year!) If you commute to work along the path or if the Greenway is a part of your regular bike route, now’s the time to start mapping out an alternative travel plan.

Stay tuned to the City’s project webpage for changes to the timeline, and be sure to sign up for email updates to stay in the know throughout the construction phase. The Friends of the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway, a community-based advocacy group, also posts regular updates on social media.