Squantum Point Park

552 Victory Rd, Quincy, MA 02171, USA

(857) 702-3884

https://www.mass.gov/locations/squantum-point-park

Owned By: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

• Directions
• Trail Map

Squantum Point Park, located on the Neponset River in Quincy, was once a naval airfield. It is now a pleasant, grassy waterfront park with views of the Boston Skyline. Some vestiges of the military base remain in place. The park is also an access point for the Quincy Riverwalk. Shellfishing is not allowed.

The Quincy Riverwalk extends for 2 miles along the Neponset River in Quincy, from Squantum Point Park, through Neponset Landing Park, to the gazebo at the Adams Inn. Enjoy a walk along the edge of the river with views of beaches, wetlands, marshes, woodlands and meadows.

While in this area, also check out the Billing Creek Salt Marsh Trail, directly adjacent to the Quincy Riverwalk, and Moswetuset Hummock, just up the road.

Features

The US Naval Air Station Squantum was active during 1917, and then again from 1923 until 1953. The Massachusetts Naval Militia constructed a small seaplane hangar on site prior to 1917. The US Navy took control of the property in 1917 and used it briefly for primary flight training. Soon after, along with the adjacent Harvard Aviation Field, the property became the site of a new Navy shipyard, the Victory Destroyer Plant. Owned by the US government and operated by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, the plant produced 35 Clemson-class destroyers before closing in 1920.

Next, the property became a Naval Reserve Air Station. It was commissioned in 1923, and was the first air base in the Naval Reserve program. After a small turf airfield was added in 1929, it was re-designated as a Naval Reserve Air Base. Expansions continued through the 1930’s, led by executive officer John J. Shea. This included the construction of three paved runways. In 1941, after additional improvements, the site was designated yet again, this time as a Naval Air Station. During World War II, it served as a training base for American and British naval aviators, and conducted maritime anti-submarine patrols. Training programs continued on site after the war, until 1953 when the Naval Air Reserve program was relocated to NAS South Weymouth and the Squantum base closed.

The Quincy Riverwalk officially opened in 2014, thanks years of dedicated work by the Neponset River Watershed Association and other greenway advocates. It extends primarily across privately-owned land, but the public is welcome to explore the trail.

Over the last few centuries, the Neponset River waterfront in Quincy was a busy industrial area, home to numerous marine-related enterprises. Sadly, this led to significant pollution in the river and its surroundings. After a period of decline, the area is now experiencing a rebirth. The Neponset River was designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern in 1994. Water quality is improving and businesses are returning. The City of Quincy invested Community Preservation Act funds to help construct the Riverwalk.

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 Massachusett tribe at Ponkapoag shares information on its website.

Trail Description

Short paved trails at both sides of the parking area connect to the Quincy Riverwalk. A crushed stone trail leads along the edge of the river and across the former runways. It connects with a boardwalk and additional trails through young forest, wetlands, and salt marshes before emerging onto a sidewalk that extends up Commander Shea Blvd. to Neponset Landing Park. Some sections are paved. Quincy Riverwalk signs are posted along the route.

Habitats and Wildlife

There are some cherry, birch, and apple trees along the trail, and also some shrubs, plus views of the adjacent salt marshes. There is also access to a sandy beach, suitable for walking but not for swimming. This property is within the watershed of the Neponset River.

With headwaters at the Neponset Reservoir in Foxborough, the Neponset River flows for 29 miles through Walpole, Sharon, Norwood, Canton, Stoughton, Dedham, and Milton, and empties into Dorchester Bay between Quincy and Dorchester. It forms the southern boundary of the city of Boston and the northern boundary of the city of Quincy.