For several years now, the nation’s oldest public park has been disrupted by a variety of construction activities. Beacon Hill residents have been waiting, for the most part patiently, for its completion. The good news is, the work is almost done. The city’s parks department believes a reborn Boston Common will be able to greet us with the coming of the summer months.

The most disruptive project had been the rebuilding of the Common garage. Located under the so-called Parade Grounds area of the Common, the underground garage was closed when blocks of cement started falling on automobiles. Reconstruction meant that the whole area was torn up. Work on the garage finished two years ago, but the grounds remained fenced off. This was a conscious decision on the part of the parks department, which wanted to give re-seeded grass time to reestablish itself.

That effort is now completed. Beginning early this spring, new fencing should be completed along Charles Street and the walkways should be finished. The grounds themselves should be reopened in late spring.

This is a mixed blessing, however. Certainly the aesthetics of the area will improve. Residents who used to walk the paths along the Parade Grounds will now be able to return to their old haunts. But the Parade Grounds are also the traditional gathering spot for large public activities. Those activities involve noise and crowds, so be prepared .…

Meanwhile, construction work on the Frog Pond will begin again on March 18th. Originally, the City had hoped all construction work on the pond would be completed before the 1996/1997 winter season. Caught up by a series of delays and last minute switches in contractors, the Frog Pond skating rink opened in only a half-ready state in January of this year. The skating rink itself was finished, but much additional work remained on the surrounding terrain.

That work will restart the day after the rink closes. It all is supposed to be completed by the beginning of the summer, although past experience suggests that those deadlines could slip. Once completed, the entire area should be a year-round showplace for the city, with winter skating, summer wading and other activities scheduled for spring and fall.

Finally, the Parkman Bandstand is nearing the end of its reconstruction. This $1.2 million project involved rebuilding the long-neglected Parkman Bandstand and making it handicapped accessible. Virtually completed, the parks department is now making plans for summertime programming.

These are the three major projects outstanding on the Common. Along with a few other minor repairs, the collective result should be a refurbished and revitalized Boston Common — long overdue and much welcomed.