It’s called the BU Beach, and today, finally, it actually looks like a beach. The mysterious arrival of soft sand, along with plastic shovels, beach umbrellas, lifeguard chairs, and whining children, on the grassy knoll directly behind Marsh Chapel should be a welcome sight this spring for beleaguered students in need of a place to unwind from their studies.
That this unexpected perk arrived on April 1, a symbolic first day of spring, makes perfect sense. That the spot looks like a beach also makes sense.
Before Storrow Drive was built in 1951, swimmers would gather on the banks of the Charles River for a dip. But with Storrow Drive a fait accompli, if you sat on the grass with your eyes closed and just listened, the sounds of cars speeding by almost sounded like waves crashing on a beach. The gas fumes almost smelled like Banana Boat sunscreen (SPF 50). And the screeching of brakes could definitely be mistaken for screaming toddlers who get sand in their eyes and refuse to eat another soggy peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
New arrivals to the BU campus always found it strange when spring arrived and someone would say, “Let’s meet at the Beach.”
Not anymore. Last one in is a rotten egg!
