Pope John Paul
II Park Reservation
|
Neponset
District
(617) 727-6034
Open year-round, dawn to dusk. Formerly used as a landfill and a drive-in theatre,
the site of Pope John Paul II Park was once a barrier between the
people of Dorchester and the Neponset River waterfront. The park
now re-connects area residents to the resources of their unique
and delicate river estuary by offering picnic facilites, soccer
fields, play areas, paths for walking, restotred salt marsh, and
extensive plantings of native trees and shrubs. The MDC's restoration
of the formerly degraded, contaminated site has also benefitted
area wildlife: black ducks, mergansers, teal, Snowy Egrets, and
Great Blue Herons, have been spotted at the park since it opened
in June, 2001. Future improvements to the park will add restrooms,
a fishing pier, a ranger station, and a link to the MDC's bike path
network.
Directions:
MBTA: Take the Red Line (Ashmont branch) to Fields
Corner. The #20 bus route passes by two of the park's entrances:
at Neponset Circle and at Hallet Street.
By Car: Take US-1 South to exit 12, Rt 3A South and merge
onto Gallivan Boulevard (MA 203). The entrance is located on Gallivan
Boulevard. A second entrance is located on Hallet Street.
|