Great Hill Park - North and South Rivers Watershed Association

Weymouth, MA 02191, USA

Owned By: Town of Weymouth

Directions

Enjoy a breathtaking view of the Boston skyline! This grassy hilltop park on Bradley Road in North Weymouth offers benches and a picnic area. It’s a great spot to sit and contemplate the natural world. Also nearby: Wessagusett Beach and George Lane Beach.

Features

The park’s best feature is the view. There is a water tower here, as well as a flagpole, plus a historical marker commemorating the settlement of Weymouth. This land is within the region of the Massachuseuk (or Massachusett) Native American tribe.

Note: The marker honors the colony of Wessagusset, formed in 1622 by Thomas Weston, and refers to the tense relationship between European settlers and native tribes at that time. The marker was placed in 1923, and re-dedicated in 1998. It focuses on the victory of Myles Standish and other European settlers over aboriginal leaders such as Wituwamat and Pecksuot.

While Standish has long been regarded as a hero of Plymouth Colony, it’s important also to acknowledge that he was a destructive force with regard to the native tribes that inhabited the region prior to, and during the time of, European colonization. In particular, consider the 1623 Massacre at Wessagusset, at which Standish lured members of the Neponset band of the Massachusett tribe into a small building and then attacked them, fatally wounding several. Standish was concerned that tribe members, especially Wituwamat, were conspiring against the colonists. Scholars have found no evidence of this plot.

More detailed information about the Native American tribes that inhabited the Weymouth area can be found at King Oak Hill Park in Weymouth. The remains of Wituwamat and Pecksuot are now interred at Old North Cemetery in Weymouth.

Trail Description

There are no trails here, but the park is large enough to accommodate a short walk.

Habitats and Wildlife

The grassy hilltop is lined with maple, sumac, oak, cherry, cedar and birch trees. Part of the Fore River watershed, Great Hill Park offers views of Boston Harbor.

The Fore River serves as the boundary line between the towns of Weymouth and Braintree. It flows for about 3 miles, into Quincy, where it meets Town River, and then flows for another 2 miles into Hingham Bay.