Nelson Memorial Park

255 Water St, Plymouth, MA 02360, USA

Plymouth Parks & Forestry: 508-830-4162, ext. 12116

https://plymouthma.myrec.com/info/facilities/details.aspx?FacilityID=11289

Owned By: Town of Plymouth

• Directions

Beachfront playground with picnic tables, benches and a large grassy area. Small sandy beach, plus launch ramp for canoes and kayaks. 3.9 acres. Paved walking trail with direct link to the Holmes Reservation and North Plymouth Rail Trail. Seasonal features include restrooms, concessions stand, splash pad. Stroller-friendly.

FISHING ADVISORY: It’s important to know that some of our fisheries are contaminated with mercury, PFAS and/or other concerning substances. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health maintains an online database with up-to-date advisories regarding fish consumption, sorted by location. We recommend you consult this valuable resource when planning a fishing excursion.

You can sign up for water quality notifications for Plymouth’s public beaches and swimming ponds in the Public Health section of their website.

Features

This public park was renovated in the 2010s. A portion of this land was given to the Town of Plymouth in memory of the Nelson family.

In earlier times, this land was within the region of the Patuxet, members of the Wampanoag tribe, who inhabited the area around the Jones River now known as Duxbury, Kingston and Plymouth. To learn more about our local tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe and the Herring Pond Wampanoag both share information on their websites. 

Trail Description

A short (0.2-mile) paved walking path extends from one end of the park to the other, along the beach. it connects directly to the 1-mile North Plymouth Rail Trail, which is a combination of pavement and crushed stone.

Habitats and Wildlife

This park is located directly on Cape Cod Bay, and looks out across the water to Plymouth Long Beach. There is a small section of sandy beach, as well as a salt marsh. It is very common to see shore birds here throughout the year. Look for the osprey nest in the salt marsh. The park is most open and grassy, but there are also some shade trees.