139 Thicket St, Weymouth, MA 02190, USA
Weymouth Parks & Recreation: 781-682-6124
https://weymouthma.myrec.com/info/facilities/details.aspx?FacilityID=10820
Owned By: Town of Weymouth
Gifford Playground is a small playground and athletic complex in Weymouth. It is also known as Gifford Park. It provides access to the 1.1-mile Great Pond Trail, which connects to Negus Park.
Features
Small playground with play structure and baseball field.
This land is within the region of the Massachusett (or Massachuseuk). To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Mattakeeset band of the Massachusett, and the Massachusett tribe at Ponkapoag, both share information on their websites.
A circa-1500 B.C.E. dugout canoe was discovered in 1965, partially buried in the shoreline of Great Pond. Likely an artifact of the Massachuseuk indigenous tribe, the canoe is now on display at Tufts Library in Weymouth, adjacent to Weston Park.
Trail Description
Access to the 1.1-mile Great Pond Trail, which extends to Negus Park.
Habitats and Wildlife
The woods here are primarily beech and pine, with some oak, maple, hemlock, yellow birch, and holly.
Great Pond, located behind the park, provides drinking water for the Town of Weymouth. It is part of the Weymouth Back River watershed, with its waters flowing northeast toward Whitman’s Pond and the Weymouth Back River.
The Weymouth Back River flows for about 10 miles, and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Hingham Bay, just south of Grape Island and Slate Island.
Historic Site: No
Park: Yes
Beach: No
Boat Launch: No
Lifeguards: No
Size: 6.4 acres
Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Parking: Ample on-site parking.
Cost: Free
Trail Difficulty: Easy
Facilities:
Benches, picnic tables, trash receptacles, playground equipment, baseball field.
Dogs: Dogs must remain on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Scoop the poop!
Boat Ramp: No
ADA Access: Yes
Scenic Views: No
Waterbody/Watershed: Weymouth Back River watershed