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Paved Trails

Creedon Memorial Park

192 HMS Halsted Dr, Hingham, MA 02043, USA

Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation: (617) 626-1250

Owned By: Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation

Creedon Memorial park is a small grassy property in the Hingham Shipyard development. It is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Next door — privately owned but open to the public — is the Hewitts Landing Waterfront Walkway, which extends behind a residential area along the edge of the Weymouth Back River, providing 0.25 miles of easy, scenic walking.

Features

Creedon Park was dedicated on June 6th, 2018 by the Town of Hingham’s Department of Veterans Services and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. It recognizes Eugene F. Creedon, a WWII sailor who advocated tirelessly for a permanent memorial on this site. Interpretive signage offers some background on the Hingham Shipyard’s role in WWII.

The Hingham Shipyard once stood on this site. It was established as World War II began, and it was truly a bustling place! Before the United States entered the war, it offered to lend many of its naval ships to England. However the vessels were remnants from World War I, and rather outmoded. The Navy designed a new ship, the Destroyer Escort, contracted with Bethlehem Steel to build it, and commissioned a new shipyard where this work would be done. (Bethlehem Steel’s existing shipyards were already working at full capacity.) Hingham’s deep harbor and relative lack of waterfront development made it a prime site.

As 1941 drew to a close, construction teams arrived in Hingham to clear 150 acres of land, erect a steel mill on site, and construct wooden cradles in which the ships would be built. At least 12 cranes were brought to the site as well. Each ship would require more than 1,000 workers. Since most men aged 18+ were heading off to war, many of the workers were either teenagers, or those who were otherwise ineligible to join the military. Bethlehem Steel brought in 400 veteran workers. Close to 15,000 others joined the ranks, including 2500 women. Rather than construct one ship at a time, the shipyard devised an extraordinary mass production system that produced six completed ships per month!

From 1942-1945, a total of 227 warships were built and launched at the Hingham Shipyard. This included 100 Destroyer Escort ships as well as 127 Landing Ship Tanks. A full list of these vessels, including name, number, and launch date, is posted on a series of interpretive signs along the Hingham Shipyard Waterfront Walkway. Numerous British Naval ships were built there as well.

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 share information on their websites. 

Trail Description

A paved, lighted walkway extends through the park, connecting directly with the Hewitts Cove Waterfront Walkway. Taken together, they offer 0.25 miles of easy walking past old wharves and along the water’s edge. Continue your walk at the Bouve Conservation Area, immediately adjacent.

 

Habitats and Wildlife

This grassy park doesn’t have many natural features, but it offers a lovely view of the Weymouth Back River and some historic wharves.

The Weymouth Back River rises from several ponds and swamps, including Whitman’s Pond in Weymouth. It flows for about 10 miles, and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Hingham Bay, just south of Grape Island and Slate Island. Follow the Back River Watershed Association for more information about the Weymouth Back River.

  • A photograph of a flagpole in a grassy park.
  • A photograph of a property sign beside a grassy park.
  • A photograph of a grassy park with a property sign, a paved trail, and scattered trees.
  • A photograph of a paved trail leading to an overlook at the edge of a river.
  • A photograph of a paved trail through a grassy park on a river.
  • A photograph of a paved walkway behind a long stretch of condominiums.
  • A photograph of a bench on an overlook at the edge of a river.
  • A photograph of the edge of a river with remains of a wharf.
  • A photograph of a property sign beside a paved trail the extends behind a long row of condominiums.
  • A photograph of a park-like area overlooking a river, with a paved trail.
  • A photograph of interpretive signage in a park beside a river.
  • A photograph of a seating area overlooking a river.
  • A photograph of a long pier extending into a river.
  • A photograph of a long wharf extending into a river.
  • A photograph of a paved trail extending behind a long stretch of condominiums.
  • A photograph of a wooden pier extending into a river.
  • A photograph of a wooden pier extending into a river.
  • A photograph of a wooden pier extending into a river.
  • A photograph of a paved trail with ornamental plantings and a river in the background.
192 HMS Halsted Dr, Hingham, MA 02043, USA

Historic Site: No

Park: Yes

Beach: No

Boat Launch: No

Lifeguards: No

Hours: Dawn to Dusk

Parking: Limited on-site parking on HMS Halsted Drive.

Cost: Free

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Facilities:

Benches, memorials, flagpole, interpretive signage.

Dogs: Dogs must remain on leash. Scoop the poop!

Boat Ramp: No

ADA Access: Yes

Scenic Views: Yes

Waterbody/Watershed: Weymouth Back River

Other Things to Do at This Site

Nature Photography
Town Parks & Monuments