Cedar Grove Mural Restoration Update
The Neponset River Watershed Association (NepRWA), in collaboration with the Neponset River Greenway Council, is working to restore the many murals located along the Neponset River Greenway Trail.
Along the Greenway, 11 murals were created between Central Avenue and Pope John Paul II Park in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These murals were primarily painted by the Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN) Youth Conservation Corps, which is now part of the Trustees of Reservations. They depict scenes of nature, trail users, and landmarks along the trail. After decades of exposure to the elements, vegetation growth, and other challenges, many of the murals have unfortunately fallen into disrepair.
A New Mural Inspires Renewal
In the summer of 2024, NepRWA and the Greenway Council worked with PowerCorps Boston and artist Ashley Jin to create Tomorrow Will Be Better y Mañana Será Bonito, the newest mural along the Greenway trail. Read more…
This mural sparked renewed enthusiasm regarding the other murals along the 9 miles of the Greenway.
Restoring a Beloved Mural
Building on this momentum, Council members and NepRWA’s Greenways Team turned their attention to additional public art along the Trail. NepRWA and the Greenway Council worked with local Dorchester-based artist Vincent Crotty and Milton-based artist group the Blue Hills Bohemians to restore a mural located on the Greenway Trail next to the Mattapan Trolley bridge at Cedar Grove Cemetery. This mural was painted in 2006 by BNAN and shows a river scene of several waterbirds, fish, beavers, and woodland animals found along the Neponset. It even shows the Baker Chocolate Factory in the distance.
On August 2, 2025, Vincent, the Blue Hills Bohemians, and volunteers from the Greenway Council came together to restore and enhance the mural. Over two days, they repainted sections of the mural that had been covered by graffiti and touched up areas that had faded over time. This restoration inspired everyone involved to continue preserving the other 10 murals along the Greenway—and potentially add new ones—to enrich the experience of walking, biking, and rolling along the trail.
- Click here to get a link to the mural on Google Maps.
- For more information on Vincent’s work, check out his website at vincentcrotty.com
- For more information on the Neponset Greenway Trail, visit neponset.org/greenways
If you have any questions about the trail or mural projects, reach out to NepRWA Greenways Program Director, Andres Ripley, at ripley@neponset.org.
