The design and construction of the Conrail Corridor section of the East Boston Greenway constitutes the first .5 mile segment of what will eventually be a 2.5 mile linear park that will connect East Boston's busy urban waterfront to its peaceful marshland habitat. As the first piece of the greenway to be built, the Conrail Corridor sets the stage for the remainder of the project by sustaining the momentum of the community's dedication to reclaiming open space lost to the nearby airport's expansion.

Located in a railroad corridor that was abandoned in the 1950s, the greenway's design draws upon the area's industrial heritage and working class culture. Fencing and columns with riveted steel cross members mark the greenway's entrances. A refurbished caboose will serve as a snack bar and/or ranger station. Steel rails are integrated into the paving plan at the entrance, and are laid perpendicularly across the pathways as a tactile signal to bicyclists and rollerbladers to slow down before entering an intersection. Words referring to historic East Boston events and personalities are painted on the concrete to indicate the direction of lanes of traffic. Large granite blocks were salvaged and reused to build seat and retaining walls.

Although the corridor is relatively narrow (32'-60' typically), the community requested two paths be built along its length. To separate fast-moving travelers from the slower paced strollers, the elevation of the two lanes will be adjusted wherever possible to create a vertical separation. Native plantings will also be used to enhance lane separation while not obstructing visibility.