Dorchester Shores Reservation
Massachusetts state park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dorchester Shores Reservation has been used as a common name for several non-contiguous recreation areas along the extended mouth of the Neponset River at the seaboard edge of the Dorchester section of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It encompasses Savin Hill, 27-acre Malibu Beach,[2] 10-acre Tenean Beach,[2] and 7-acre Victory Road Park.[2] Savin Hill is adjacent to Malibu Beach and has been restored to its original Olmsted Brothers design. The reservation is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.[3]
| Dorchester Shores Reservation | |
|---|---|
Tenean Beach | |
  Location in Massachusetts  Dorchester Shores Reservation (Massachusetts)  Dorchester Shores Reservation (the United States) | |
| Location | Dorchester, Massachusetts, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°17′50″N 71°2′44″W[1] |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3.0 m)[1] |
| Established | 1962 |
| Administrator | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Dorchester Shores Reservation |
Climate change mitigation
In October 2018, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced a comprehensive climate change adaptation proposal to protect the Boston Harbor coastline from flooding,[4] and in October 2020, the Walsh administration released a 174-page climate change adaptation report for the Boston Harbor coastline in Dorchester.[5][6] In February 2022, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced an $8.2 million project to construct a 0.7-mile shared-use path from Tenean Beach to Morrissey Boulevard and that will connect the Boston Harborwalk with the Lower Neponset River Trail on the Neponset River Reservation via Morrissey (including a 670-foot boardwalk in the salt marshes near the National Grid gas tank) that will be included in the $9.5 billion in federal funds the state government received under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.[7][8]
In August 2022, Governor Baker signed into law a bill co-sponsored by Massachusetts State Senator Nick Collins and Massachusetts State Representative Daniel J. Hunt establishing a Dorchester Shores Reservation and Parks Trust Fund administered by the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs to ensure the long-term conservation, maintenance, and improvement of Reservation properties.[9][10] In March 2023, the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) announced a virtual public meeting to solicit public feedback from residents for an initiative titled the "Dorchester Resilient Waterfront Project at Tenean Beach/Conley Street" (that will involve staff from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the DCR, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) to formulate a climate change adaptation proposal for submission by the following June 30 to address coastal flooding due to sea level rise on Tenean Beach and Conley Street.[11] In July 2023, the BPDA issued its final report for the Dorchester Resilient Waterfront Project at Tenean Beach/Conley Street.[12][13]
Activities and amenities
- Malibu Beach: Swimming and bathhouse.
- Savin Hill Beach: Swimming, sports fields, tot-lot playground.
- Tenean Beach: Swimming, playground, tennis and basketball courts.
- Victory Road Park: The park occupies a reclaimed landfill and is designed for passive use.
- The reservation also offers picnicking, restrooms, concessions, fishing, first aid, and information.
