Acquiring public access easements ensures that everyone can enjoy parks and sections of the Neponset River in perpetuity.
Locations in the Watershed where we have established public access include:
Quincy RiverWalk
The Quincy RiverWalk is a 2-mile-long public walkway along the Neponset River shore that officially opened on September 30, 2014.
The Watershed Association and other Greenway advocates worked together for almost 10 years to create this public trail along the Quincy shore of the Neponset River.
Willett Pond, Walpole
Although Willett Pond is private property, the Watershed Association owns a public access and flow easement covering much of the Willett Pond property.
The easement ensures the public’s right to use the pond for passive, non-motorized recreational use, in accordance with the pond use rules.
The public can access the small beach off Brook Street in Walpole, near the intersection of Pettee’s Pond Lane. From the beach, the public can launch canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, and other small, non-motorized boats to explore the ponds. The beach may also be used for picnicking and catch-and-release fishing. Access is allowed from dawn to dusk.
Swimming is not allowed. Land access is prohibited except at the Brook Street beach.
Bird Pond, Walpole
NepRWA acquired a public access easement to East Walpole’s Bird Pond in 2017 that connects to the Endean Trail and a canoe launch.
The pond was created by damming the Neponset River in a steep valley, making for a long, narrow pond, and is surrounded by protected shoreline or town conservation land on three sides with beautiful mature trees.
Even though much of the shoreline is publicly accessible, the public never had a clear legal right to access the pond itself for paddling or recreation until this action was taken.
To get to the canoe launch: Take Route 1 to Route 27 W (Walpole), R on Washington Street, left on Mansion Drive. Trailhead is 100 yards up Mansion Drive on L. There is enough room for 3 parking spots.
