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Town Parks & Monuments

Merrymount Park

Merrymount Park, 1 Merrymount Pkwy, Quincy, MA 02170, USA

Quincy Parks: 617-376-1253

Owned By: City of Quincy

Merrymount Park is Quincy’s largest and most utilized park. Situated on a hilltop overlooking Quincy Bay and the Quincy Shores Reservation, it features a playground, an amphitheater, a shaded picnic pavilion, a seasonal bath house and boat house, and numerous athletic facilities including baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, soccer, volleyball, and football. In addition, there is a paved 0.4-mile loop trail, and a forested nature trail along Black’s Creek, plus several memorials and benches.

Also nearby: Caddy Memorial Park and the Salt Marsh Trail at Sailors Home Cemetery.

Features

Merrymount Park was donated to the City of Quincy in 1885 by Charles Francis Adams II, grandson of President John Quincy Adams. Adams procured his good friend Frederick Law Olmsted to help develop the park, but the town did not have the money for Olmsted to develop a full plan. They Ryan Boathouse is named for William F. Ryan, the city’s first Recreation Director, who served from 1955-1975.

This land is within the region of the Neposnet band 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

The park features a wide, 0.4-mile paved loop trail, as well as a 0.25-mile nature trail that overlooks Black’s Creek and its salt marshes.

Habitats and Wildlife

This grassy hilltop park with ornamental plantings has is partially bordered by a forest with oak, pine, and pitch pine trees. It directly abuts the salt marshes around Black’s Creek. Black’s Creek flows to Quincy Bay.

  • A photograph of a paved plaza in a park with a flagpole and a picnic pavilion.
  • A photograph of a large paved parking area.
  • A photograph of a large picnic pavilion in a grassy park.
  • A photograph of a wide paved trail in a grassy park.
  • A photograph of horseshoe and bocce courts in a park.
  • A photograph of a stone building with green trim.
  • A photograph of a basketball court in a park.
  • A photograph of a bench in a grassy park, with text on the bench that reads Merrymount Park.
  • A photograph of a park overlooking a salt marsh with one tree, a property sign, and a large unpaved parking area.
  • A photograph of a forest trail with a multi-directional wayfinding sign.
  • A photograph of a shaded picnic pavilion beside a marsh creek.
  • A photograph of a pier beside a marsh creek.
  • A photograph of a trail through a woodland beside a salt marsh.
  • A photograph of a trail sign beside a trail with a creek in the background.
  • A photograph of a marsh creek beside a grassy park.
  • A photograph of a boat launch area beside a marsh creek.
Merrymount Park, 1 Merrymount Pkwy, Quincy, MA 02170, USA

Historic Site: No

Park: Yes

Beach: No

Boat Launch: Yes

Lifeguards: No

Size: 80 acres

Hours: Dawn to Dusk

Parking: Ample on-site parking at 1 Merrymount Parkway, off Hancock Street in Wollaston.

Cost: Free

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Facilities:

Playground, amphitheater, picnic pavilion, seasonal bath house (June through September), boat house. Athletic facilities include football, soccer, baseball and softball fields, plus basketball and tennis courts, soccer football. In addition, there are volleyball, horseshoe and bocce courts, a gaga pit, a paved 0.4-mile loop trail, and a nature trail along Black’s Creek. Trash receptacles, grills, restrooms, picnic tables, memorials and benches.

Dogs: Dogs must remain on leash. Always clean up after your dog!

Boat Ramp: No

ADA Access: Yes

Scenic Views: Yes

Waterbody/Watershed: Black's Creek / Quincy Bay

Other Things to Do at This Site

Forest Trails
Grassy Walks
Hiking
Nature Photography
Paddling
Paved Trails
Picnic Tables
Playgrounds