January Urban Nature Walk at the mouth of the Charles, part two.

[urbpan]

From up on the footbridge, it looks a little like chaos, but we can see a commuter rail train leaving North Station, the Zakim bridge, Boston Garden (which changes its name every few years with the change of corporate sponsorship), and some tall apartment buildings over the frosty river.



The footbridge sets down under the abutments of the gigantic Zakim bridge. Immediately I'm greeted by this encouraging message.


As much as these are Nature Walks, they are also Urban. I celebrate the beautiful works of human industry like this iron drawbridge.


Directly under the Zakim. I was informed that in warmer weather, and at night, this area becomes a colorfully lit gathering place for dance parties and the like.


I cross this bridge when I travel between Franklin Park and Stone Zoos, and I always think that it's hard to beat the view. These parks beat the view.


By that time I had been joined by Brittany, the only other Nature Walker on this trip. The park on the Boston side is Paul Revere Park.


A masonry crevice provides habitat for a staghorn sumac.


By the State Police barracks (for their harbor force) a series of walkways cross the river. These can be swung out of the way of boat traffic. This is one of the huge gears that moves the walkway.


The Charles River gives way to the Boston Harbor here, and a pair of mallards dabbles for seafood in the low tidewaters.


As we got further into the park, a mockingbird foraged for food nearby.


The water habitat feeling was giving way to the feeling of terrestrial habitat. The snow under the roadside landscaping is marked with the tracks of an eastern cottontail.


Another walkway, leading under many overpasses and attended by colorful lampposts on the left. On the right, poking through the gravel, a mulberry tree takes what little sunlight filters down.


It was a chilly but adventuresome two hours, and well worth it! See you next month!

Comments

[viridian5.livejournal.com]

Nine Inch Nails fan that I am, I immediately follow "And you could have it all" with "My empire of dirt."

[bosoxmom.livejournal.com]

very nice walking tour. I miss Boston and all of it's mix of old and new. The Zakim is one nice piece of work. There is a similar type bridge up in Tacoma and one is being built here as a streetcar, pedestrian bridge over the Willamette. I can't wait to walk over it!!!!!

Who was this Zakim person????

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Leonard Zakim was a civil rights leader and head of the New England Chapter of the Anti-Defamation League.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_P._Zakim

what? a bridge named after a Jew???

[dedhamoutdoors.livejournal.com]

You better check your facts! The bridge is actually named "The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge." In true Boston fashion (I can say this because I am born and bred Boston Irish Catholic - recovering, of course), there was some controversy about naming a bridge after a Jew. There are different angles on the naming controversy; you can read a couple for yourself and come to your own conclusion.
http://www.economist.com/node/1670359
http://www.kulanu.org/usa/revolutionary.php