Woodworth Memorial Park

34 MA-123, Hanover, MA 02339, USA

Owned By: Town of Norwell

• Directions

A baseball and softball complex located on Main Street (Route 123), in the village of Assinippi. Near the park entrance, take a peek at Third Herring Brook as it exits Jacobs Pond.

Features

The park is dedicated to C. Allen “Al” Woodworth, manager and officer of the Norwell Little League from 1971 to 1983, for his contribution to the quality of life in Norwell and his untiring support of youth recreational programs. In addition, the Little League ballfield is dedicated to William P. Martin, manager and officer of the Norwell Little League from 1958 to 1979 in memory of his devotion to the furthering of Little League baseball in Norwell.

Home of Norwell Little League and Norwell Girls Softball.

This land is within the region of the Massachusett (or Massachuseuk) Native American tribe. For thousands of years, the land that today is known as Norwell was inhabited by indigenous people who grew crops, foraged, hunted, and fished in the Assinippi and North River areas. Circa 1617, a major outbreak of disease decimated an estimated 90% of the native population in New England, including the Massachusett and Wampanoag tribes that inhabited the South Shore. There are still descendants of these original inhabitants living here today. They are known as the Mattakeesett Tribe of the Massachusett Indian Nation , the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag, and the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe.

Habitats and Wildlife

This grassy property is lines with cedar trees, as well as maples, pines, oaks, and wild grapes. It is located within the watershed of Third Herring Brook.

Third Herring Brook is a major tributary to the North River. Its headwaters are located north of Jacobs Pond in Norwell, in the southern portion of Valley Swamp. Third Herring Brook exits the pond from the southern side, at the dam. (Watch for a fish ladder here in 2024!) The brook forms the border between Norwell and Hanover, and flows past Historic Sylvester Field, and into the North River downstream of the old stone bridge on Washington Street.

Approximately 10 miles in length, the North River begins at the confluence of the Indian Head River (Hanover) and Herring Brook (Pembroke). From there it flows through the towns of Hanover, Pembroke, Marshfield, Norwell, and Scituate. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean between Third and Fourth Cliffs, draining approximately 59,000 acres along the way.