Lower Neponset River Reservation
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A Master Plan for the Lower Neponset River Reservation Boston, Milton, and Quincy, Massachusetts A Master Plan for the Lower Neponset River Reservation Boston, Milton, and Quincy, Massachusetts Commonwealth of Massachusetts Metropolitan District Commission William E Weld David B. Balfour, Jr. Governor Commissioner Argeo Paul Cellucci Darryl Settles Lieutenant Governor Avril Elkort Trudy Coxe Charles E Wu Secretary, Robert Carr .Executive Office ofEnvironmental Affairs Associate Commissioners Leo Roy Julia B. O'Brien Undersecretary, Director ofPlanning .Executive Office ofEnvironmental Affairs David T. Queeley Project Manager December 1996 Master Plan Consultants Planners Collaborative Inc. Planners and Landscape Architects in association with Camp Dresser & McKee Environmental Engineers Judith Nitsch Engineering Land Surveyors Main Street Design Interpretive and Environmental Graphic Designers Wallace Roberts and Todd Planners and Landscape Architects Table of Contents Introduction 1 The Plan Pope John Paul II Park 7 The Riverside 10 The Bend 15 The Port 18 Squantum Point Park 20 Edgewater Park 22 Neponset River Trail 24 Trail Connections 31 Watercourse 33 Funding, Costs, and Phasing 34 Public Safety, Maintenance, & Mitigation 37 Permits 41 Preliminary Design Drawings: A-1 Neponset River Trail 60STON HARBOR N!PONHf IIVU. ~n,,·tlOl'Ol.fl',1.:- UISTlllC'I' aos-ro.:-- BOS TON 8 A Y ,-- j -~ti· P- - v "'w!._ -~:t~~11- ·i-=z jl:rft-~ t ~ .A-,c~,,..,""' Charles Eliot's 1893 Map ofthe Metropolitan Park System with the Neponset River Reservation in Lower Center Introduction This plan is about keeping a promise. eluding rich nature preserves and numerous popular parks. Acquisition of the Neponset Marshes began in 1896, mak The promise was made in the late 1800s. Charles Eliot and ing these salt marshes the earliest in the state to be protected Sylvester Baxter, two of the founders ofthe Metropolitan Park as natural assets. In the one hundred years since, the MDC System, alarmed by the hasty pace of Boston's expansion, laid has actively worked to acquire approximately 750 acres along out an idea for a vast, interconnected system ofparks, nature the Neponset. These acquisitions include preserving addi reserves, and scenic roadways in and around the city to en tional marshlands and upstream shoreline, developing play sure chat a wide range of natural and recreation lands would grounds, such as the Ventura and Ryan Playgrounds, and be preserved and enhanced for the future. acquiring formerly used lands, such as an abandoned train line and a closed landfill for reuse for recreation purposes. Eliot and Baxter placed great weight on protecting open space The Neponset Marshes and creating parklands along rivers and streams, especially This plan builds upon the course sec by Eliot and Baxter. the three rivers that flow into Boston Harbor: the Charles, And although roadways and buildings have been conscructed The course stresses the principles of wise land stewardship, the Mystic, and the Neponset. The reason so much impor along the river in recent decades, one can still find plenty of ofpreserving sensitive wildlife habitats, of restoring damaged tance was placed on these waterways grew from an awareness places where where the natural course of the river follows a natural areas, and of opening portions of the outdoors for that rivers are vital sources of life. They understood that fluid and unmistakable rhythm. public use and enjoyment. It is a course that has stood the land along streams, when kept in a relatively natural condi test of time, and one we can count on co guide us in the tion, helps to keep river water dean, makes ideal habitats for Once, the Neponset River was considered a sacred place by future. fish and wildlife, and becomes sought after places for indi everyone who lived near it. We know this because the river viduals and families seeking rest and recreation. In 1893, was given a name by Native Americans who named only In putting this plan into practice, the MDC needs partners. Eliot wrote: "Nature appears to have placed these streams important places. We also know by the choice of its name Neighbors are encouraged to become involved in the project. just where they can best serve the needs of the crowded popu that it was special. The name "Neponset" means "Harvest Local nonprofit organizations and business are urged co lations gathering fast about them." River," which referred to the days during the year when Mas "adopt" portions of the corridor and new parks. And other sachusetts tribe of the Algonquin Nation feasted off the local, state, and federal agencies are invited to participate. In schools of fish caught in the river, especially in the spring the end, lasting stewardship of this gift of nature will require when the herring and smelts came in from the ocean to hurdle the commitment ofindividuals, the creativity ofgovernment the rapids and spawn in the freshwater that flowed from the and business leaders, and cooperation of all. river's source 27-miles upstream. Cl The river's history as an abundant natural resource contin Boston ued well after the Native Americans lived along its shores. Successive generations of Americans settled beside the river BOSTON.MA Ha~rlfo and used it for drinking water, food, irrigation, transporta tion, swimming, bathing, industry, and recreation. Today, as a result of Boston's growth as an urban center, more than 130,000 people live within a mile of the lower section of river between Squanrum Point in Quincy, Malibu Beach in Rivers into Boston Harbor Boston, and Manapan Square. Of the three rivers, only the Neponset was never cut off from The river presents us with evidence of the foresight of Eliot the sea by a dam across its mouth. As a result, each day a salty and Baxter, especially in their prediction that natural places stew of river and sea water rises and falls with every changing in and around Boston would become exceedingly scarce. ride. The river's wide and sandy mouth is lined with tall Consistent with that vision, the MDC, since the 1890s has marsh grass that provides a fertile home for fish and wildlife. moved to protect hundreds of acres along the waterway, in- The Neponset River below Mattapan Square Modern Visionaries ing water quality and have assisted the Department of Envi Keystone Apartments ronmental Protection in the preparation of the Neponset River Lower Mills Civic Association Many residencs of the Neponset River watershed have long Resource Assessment. Mattapan Family Services Center had a vision of restoring the waterway to a place of promi Massachusetts Electric nence in every day life. This plan is a testament to their Boston Natural Areas Fund and Trust for Public Land Port Norfolk Neighborhood Association dedicated support and encouragement of the MDC. Many The Boston Natural Areas Fund (BNAF) as lead community Trustees of the Reservations of the same citizens have worked tirelessly for the funds chat organizer, and Trust for Public Lands (TPL) as the Metro will be needed to implement the plan's recommendations. politan District Commission's acquisition partner, together Elected Officials and Agencies The 1996 Open Space Bond Bill, which resulted in $45 mil have undertaken a four year citizen-based effort in 1995 co Many ocher individuals, groups, and agencies have provided lion being authorized largely to implemenc chis master plan build public awareness and form constituencies for restoring valuable contributions during the master planning and de and carry out certain ocher river corridor projects, further and maintaining the Neponset River. This work has been sign process. A complete description of the public participa illustrates the fruits of this dedication and hard work. The supported by the Lila Wallace Readers Digest Fund. The tion process with a list of participants is included in the Ap continuing energies ofthese many supporters, some ofwhom project includes development of citizen stewardship through pendix. The following elected officials and agencies have are identified below, will help assure that the promise of this environmental education programs, community workshops, been especially key in developing this master plan. plan is realized in the future. action projects, a Greenway Council, and special events fo cusing on the river. BNAF developed the Neponset River Senator Paul White The Neponset Master Plan Citizens Advisory Council Greenway Youth Conservation Program and organized a corps Senator Diane Wilkerson A Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) was established in 1993 of thirty Yourh Conservation workers to construct a foot Representative Thomas Finneran by the Metropolitan District Commission to help develop path along the river at Ryan Playground. Representative James Brett the Lower Neponset River Reservation Plan and the Nepon Representative Brian Joyce set River Trail. Members of this group representing neigh Boston GreenSpace Alliance Represencative Shirley Owens-Hicks borhood and civic associations, watershed and open space The Boston GreenSpace Alliance is a nonprofit membership Representative Joseph Manning advocacy groups, public agencies, as well as individual citi organization which advocates for open space and improved zens have participated in chis master planning effort. In management of Boston's parks. A few of its activities in Executive Office of Environmental Affairs deed, the CAC has been a key force in the creation of this clude: sponsoring education and action programs co plant Dept. of Environmental Management ACEC Program plan. (See the document entitled Master Plan Appendix for and maintain trees, working with schools to promote envi Department of Environmental Protection a detailed description of the Public Participation and Inter ronmental education, and collaborating with other nonprofits Department of Fisheries, Wildlife,· & Law Enforcement agency Coordination process.) While the CAC served as the and community groups on a variety of environmental im Division of Marine Fisheries principal avenue ofpublic participation, several other groups provement projects in Boston and along the Neponset River.