Weymouth Trail Improvements Completed while Town Wide Open Space Upgrades Underway

Weymouth, MA – In its inaugural year, the Weymouth Open Space Committee has been busy completing trail upgrades and improvements across town. Led by the Recreation Department’s Program Coordinator, Andrew Hultin, and seven resident-members, the Open Space Committee is overseeing improvements on over five miles of trails at sites across town including: the Bradford Torrey Bird Sanctuary; Great Pond Trail; Woodbine Conservation Area; Cavern Rock; and House Rock. To date, the signage and wayfinding has been completed at the Woodbine Conservation Area and Cavern Rock.

In addition to the work of the Open Space Committee, the Town recently received its access permit approval from MassDOT to begin work on the Great Esker Park trail improvements project. The Town was awarded a $50K Recreational Trails Program grant from the Department of Conservation and Recreation to complete parking improvements, create a handicapped accessible entrance, and update signage at the Bridge Street entrance of Great Esker Park as well as add interpretive panels and wayfinding throughout the park. In addition to the grant funding, the Town received a $5,000 donation from local business partners at the Riverway Plaza and is utilizing about $77,000 in CPA funds to complete the work. Because the parking lot falls within the state highway layout for Route 3A, the Town was required to receive an access permit from MassDOT to complete the parking area improvements. The recently approved permit will allow for the next steps, including completed design and construction, to commence. The Town anticipates some work to begin this winter and the project to be completed in the late Spring/early Summer of 2020.  

“I am excited to see the progress made by the Open Space Committee this year and look forward to the work they will do to make incremental improvements on many more miles of trails in Town,” said Mayor Hedlund. “With the Great Esker Park improvements beginning as well, we will be able to leverage funding and resources to make valuable upgrades by next Spring.”

Finally, the Town has been undergoing the Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) update. The Town engaged the services of Horsley Witten Group in early spring of 2019 to complete the plan update before its expiration in January of 2020. To date, the Town’s Planning and Community Development Department, working with Horsley Witten Group, has held numerous public meetings, administered multiple surveys, and solicited feedback from major committees and boards in town. The OSRP Update is nearing completion and the draft plan will be published in early December. A public hearing for the plan will take place on December 18th. The draft then will be presented to the Town Council for approval and adoption before the end of the year.

The purpose of the OSRP is to maintain and enhance the economic, environmental, and social benefits of Weymouth’s open space and recreational resources for the entire community. The plan inventories local parks, playgrounds, and open spaces, evaluates community and management needs, and outlines a 7-year action plan to meet those needs. This plan works in conjunction with the Back River Trail Master Plan, work of the Open Space Committee, and other trail and park improvements underway in Town.

To learn more about the OSRP Update or provide additional feedback, visit: https://www.weymouthoutdoors.com/ or contact the Planning and Community Development Department at 781-340-5015.