The asphalt paths that loop around Washington Market Park have been repaired and replaced, thanks to funding from 2024 from Councilmember Chris Marte. And the drainage system under the lawn was repaired simultaneously, which will hopefully limit the flooding on the west side of the lawn. Now a punch list of items are being completed — regrading of the lawn to align with the new paths, replacing the bluestone near the picnic area — this may be my wishful thinking, but it looks like the park could open around Labor Day.

The Friends of Washington Market Park are also taking advantage of the closing to repair and repaint the gazebo. Also, since younger residents dug up a large swath of the platform surrounding the gazebo (those pavers are set in dirt, and children seem set on digging them up and taking them home, to the point where the gap is bigger than the set pavers), the Friends are evaluating solutions to repair the platform as well.

Since work was going on all summer, the window for resodding the lawn has closed. The Parks Department will mow what’s there for this season; next year the park will be resodded as usual in the spring.

The Parks Department has removed the old metal benches along the path; they are now being replaced with the iconic World’s Fair benches. That will also allow for bench-naming opportunities with the Parks Department.

The tennis and basketball courts are still open. The Friends of Washington Market Park have an update page here.