Boston Harbor Islands Comprehensive Plan V l^Oibk D lf\ c ' x 035//& 299- Boston Harbor Islands Comprehensive Plan prepared for Massachusetts Department of Natural Resources by mapc Metropolitan Area Planning Council The preparation of this report was financially aided through a federal grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund program of the Depart­ ment of Interior, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation Project #25-00065. October 1972 For all those who have ever sailed, are sailors at heart or have dreamed of the days when sailing ships plied the waters of Boston Harbor, we would like to identify our Harbor Islands’ Logo. Our experts tell us that this particular vessel was known as a four masted, double topsail bark or four masted bark with double topsail. A tendency in this country to use the term ship or "shipentine" never quite caught on and the term remained bark or barque as it was known in England. Cover Photograph: City of Boston Skyline as seen from Outer Brewster Island. Elissa M. Landre, MAPC Staff. Metropol i tan Area Planning Council 4 4 School Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Richard M. Doherty (6 1 7 ) 523 - 2454 Executive Director Commissioner Arthur W. Brownell Department of Natural Resources 100 Cambridge Street Boston, Massachusetts 02202 Dear Commissioner Brownell: On behalf of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, I am pleased to transmit the “Boston Harbor Islands Comprehensive Plan,” which has been prepared by the Planning Council under contract to the Massachusetts Department of Natural Resources in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 742 of the Acts of the Massachu­ setts General Court, 1970. The Council was particularly pleased to have been selected to prepare this Plan, since it represents the culmination of recommendations contained in our 1967 report entitled “Open Space and Recreation Plan and Program for Metropolitan Boston — Volume 2 - The Boston Harbor Islands.” Implementation of the region’s Open Space Plan is a prime goal of the Council. We feel that the Plan which follows is an imaginative, yet highly practical response to the mandates of the General Court and the guidelines which you have established as Commissioner of the agency with prime re­ sponsibilities for Plan implementation. We also believe that the Plan proposals balance the needs of preserving our dwindling natural resources and providing varied recreational opportunities to all residents of the region. The Council wishes to express its gratitude to you and the members of the staff of the Department of Na­ tural Resources who have been of great assistance during the course of the Plan. The cooperation and assistance of numerous local, state and federal agencies, many of whom will play vital roles in the im­ plementation of the Plan, is acknowledged with great appreciation. Finally, the key role of the Project Advisory Committee (PAC) should be noted. The PAC, composed of representatives of the chief executives of the cities and towns bordering the Harbor, and state and federal agencies, met at regular intervals during the course of the project. It provided an invaluable source of insight and input to the Plan, and served as a review body and “sounding board” for Plan proposals. To all of these agencies and groups, the Council extends its gratitude. In summary, the Council is pleased to have played a key role in the preparation of this Plan, and we stand ready to be of further assistance in any way which you deem appropriate. We are proud to transmit “The Boston Harbor Islands Comprehensive Plan.” Very truly yours, JJMcC:ddf Attachment Officers: John J. McCarthy Mrs. W illiam B. Castle Neal Holland Mrs. Theodore C. McKie James J. Matera P re sid e nt Vice-President T reasurer S e cre ta ry Asst. Treasurer Table of Contents Page Page Page Foreword 7 Spectacle Island 67 Ragged Island 109 Spectacle Island Plan 69 Sarah Island 109 Summary 11 Castle Island 71 Langlee Island 109 Castle Island Plan 72 Button Island 111 Summary of Proposed Improvements 12 Ouincy Bay Outer Harbor Sub- Hingham Harbor Islands System 75 Plans 111 Part One George’s, Gallop’s, and Lovell’s Nut, Raccoon, and Hangman History and Present Conditions 15 Islands 76 Islands 113 Natural History of Boston George’s Island 76 Nut Island 113 Harbor 15 Gallop’s Island 78 Raccoon Island 113 Cultural History 20 Lovell’s Island 80 Hangman Island 113 Present Conditions 24 George's, Gallop’s, and Lovell’s Nut, Raccoon, and Hangman Analysis of Recreation Demand Islands Plans 81 Islands Plans 114 and Standards 27 George’s Island Plan 81 Nut Island Plan 114 Gallop’s Island Plan 84 Raccoon Island Plan 114 Part Two Lovell’s Island Plan 85 Hangman Island Plan 115 Design Policies 31 The Brewsters 87 Support Facilities 115 Introduction 31 Great Brewster 87 Summary of Cost and Priorities 120 General Policies 31 Middle Brewster 88 Policies for Preservation of Outer Brewster 88 Administration 124 Island Ecology 31 Little Brewster 89 Recreation Policies 32 Calf Island 90 Appendix 133 Transportation Policies 32 Little Calf Island 90 Appendix I Green Island 90 Summary of Prior Harbor Part Three The Graves 90 Islands Analysis and Development Pro­ Shag Rocks 91 Plans and Programs 133 gram for The Boston Harbor Is- Appendix II The Brewster Islands Plans 91 lands Park System 35 Beach Areas and Island Alternative Evaluation 35 Perimeters 134 Transportation and Access 36 Hingham Bay Sub-System 93 Appendix III Overview of Comprehensive Wildlife Observed on the Plan 41 Peddock’s Island 94 Harbor Islands 136 Peddock’s Island Plan 96 Appendix IV Individual Island Analysis Plan The Most Common Existing and Program 42 Bumpkin Island 101 Trees 145 Dorchester Bay Inner Harbor Bumpkin Island Plan 103 Appendix V Sub-System 43 Harbor Transportation 149 Deer Island 43 Grape, Slate, and Sheep Islands 105 Appendix VI Grape Island 105 Costs 154 Deer Island Plan 45 Slate Island 106 Appendix VII Long Island 47 Sheep Island 106 Chapter 742 of the Acts of the Rainsford Island 52 Massachusetts Legislature, Long Island Plan 53 Grape, Slate, and Sheep Islands 1970 162 Rainsford Island Plan 55 Plans 106 Photographs 163 Grape Island Plan 106 Moon Island 57 Map Sources 164 Slate Island Plan 107 Bibliography 164 Moon Island Plan 59 Sheep Island Plan 108 Acknowledgements 165 Thompson Island 61 Index 166 Thompson Island Plan 64 Hingham Harbor Islands 108 Agency & Staff Credits 168 FOREWORD In this, the hundredth year since the developed for conservation and rec­ founding of a national system of reation purposes. The type of recre­ parks, a major public debate is being ational development and the degree conducted over the future of the Na­ of conservation was to followthe gen­ tion’s scenic and natural resources. eral guidelines of a 1967 report of Important questions are being raised the Metropolitan Area Planning over the purpose of public parkland. Council entitled Open Space Plan and Increased leisure-time and a growing Program for Metropolitan Boston; hunger for recreation have contribu­ Volume 2; Boston Harbor. This re­ ted to an intensive utilization of our port had detailed the general prob­ parks. The intensity of this recre­ lems and potentials of the Harbor ational use has threatened to destroy and issued the challenge of bringing many of the natural qualities that the Harbor Islands Park System to were to be preserved by the creation fruition. That report stated that: of the parks. “Boston Harbor is one of the Clearly one technique for the reso­ most beautiful harbors and could lution of conflicts between recreation be one of the most delightful and conservation uses is the develop­ parks in America. Its islands and ment of a sound program of resource shores have been intimately con­ management, based upon a compre­ nected with the growth of Massa­ hensive and totally coordinated plan. chusetts’ capital city. It achieved This philosophy has been a basic ten­ for Boston early preeminence in et of the Comprehensive Open Space commerce and industry and is and Recreation Plan for Metropoli­ rich in historical associations.” tan Boston; and has been the over­ The landmark 1970 act specified riding purpose behind the prepara­ that the Islands be developed in ac­ tion of this — The Boston Harbor Is­ cordance with a Comprehensive Plan lands Comprehensive Plan. for the proposed recreation and con­ The Islands of Boston Harbor have servation purposes. Most important­ long been recognized as badly mis­ ly, the Legislature authorized a used natural resources of great po­ $3,500,000 bond issue to finance tential. Pollution, institutional abuse, planning, acquisition, and develop­ land fill, and a variety of military and ment programs to implement the Act. private uses have pre-empted the The Massachusetts Department of public enjoyment of one of New Natural Resources contracted with England’s finest natural resources. the Metropolitan Area Planning Numerous proposals for the future Council to build upon its previous use of the Islands have been ad­ plans by conducting the necessary vanced over the years. These pro­ technical and design studies for the posals ranged from intensive resi­ preparation of the required Compre­ dential and recreational develop­ hensive Plan. ment to conservation and restoration In the first steps of preparing the of the Islands’ natural beauty. Plan a project Advisory Committee The Massachusetts Legislature, by was established bythe Commissioner enacting Chapter 742 of the Acts of of the Department of Natural Re­ 1970, brought to a close these years sources. This Committee, consisting of public debate. of representatives of the cities and This act specified that the pri­ towns bordering the Harbor, state vately held islands of Boston Harbor and federal agencies with an interest should be acquired by the Massachu­ in the Harbor, and a variety of pri­ setts Department of Natural Re­ vate groups and organizations, sources and, together with the is­ worked with the planners to develop lands already under public control, guidelines and policies for the Com­ 7 prehensive Plan.