Yes, they removed the previous path on the right side of the front of the building and replaced with the larger path on the left side of the front of the building.
The wide-angle shot makes the lawn look larger than it actually is, but I agree they should have landscaped it like the rest of the surrounding area. It is next to a fenced in dog run, so hopefully it isn't instantly ruined with dog pee.
Martha Rd and Lomasney Way are already one-way streets, so I think the proposed street addition would mostly serve as a second access point for cars coming off Storrow Drive. It would also cut through the garden behind Amy Lowell, bisect Thoreau path, and require the removal of the parking...